Saudi Arabia expects tourism revenues to exceed 56.2 bln USD by year end

RIYADH, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- Saudi Arabia expects tourism revenues to exceed 56.2 billion U.S dollars by year end, Saudi Press Agency reported Sunday.

According to a report by Tourism Information and Research Center of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage, the tourism has grown at a much faster rate than the wider economy in recent years, after a series of government measures to boost the sector.

Tourism revenues increased from 15.2 billion dollars in 2004 to more than 51.4 billion dollars in 2017, the report said, adding that tourism has become one of the most important non-oil economic sectors in the kingdom.

The tourism provided 993,901 direct and indirect jobs in 2017, the report noted.