Saudi Arabia was among the top Middle Eastern countries with the most international tourist arrivals, receiving above 18 million arrivals in 2022. The Middle East is witnessing a robust recovery in tourist arrivals, indicating a positive trend following the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak and the subsequent travel restrictions.
MENA tourism types
Tourism in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region grew by about ten percent in 2018, reaching approximately six percent of the world’s tourist arrivals. Tourism is a major pillar of the economy, especially with the efforts to diversify from the oil-based economies in the region. The UAE was the most competitive travel and tourism destination in the MENA region in 2018 according to the Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index at a score of 4.4 points out of seve. There is a wide variety of types of tourism offered in the MENA region. The region has a variety of natural, cultural, heritage, and religious assets. The region is home to ancient monuments and archaeological sites which were named in UNESCO’s World Heritage List. The MENA region possesses a unique cultural landscape that consists of Arab architecture and a mix of British, French, Ottoman, and Spanish influences from its historical colonial legacy. The region also has a favorable sunny climate with access to different seas, cruises, shopping venues, and man-made attractions. The leading country in the region in 2015 in wellness tourism was Morocco with about 2.5 million visitors.
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World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism). (November 24, 2023). Middle Eastern countries with the largest number of international tourist arrivals in 2022 (in millions) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved October 31, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/261742/tourist-arrivals-in-middle-east-countries/
World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism). "Middle Eastern countries with the largest number of international tourist arrivals in 2022 (in millions)." Chart. November 24, 2023. Statista. Accessed October 31, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/261742/tourist-arrivals-in-middle-east-countries/
World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism). (2023). Middle Eastern countries with the largest number of international tourist arrivals in 2022 (in millions). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: October 31, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/261742/tourist-arrivals-in-middle-east-countries/
World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism). "Middle Eastern Countries with The Largest Number of International Tourist Arrivals in 2022 (in Millions)." Statista, Statista Inc., 24 Nov 2023, https://www.statista.com/statistics/261742/tourist-arrivals-in-middle-east-countries/
World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism), Middle Eastern countries with the largest number of international tourist arrivals in 2022 (in millions) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/261742/tourist-arrivals-in-middle-east-countries/ (last visited October 31, 2024)
Middle Eastern countries with the largest number of international tourist arrivals in 2022 (in millions) [Graph], World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism), November 24, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/261742/tourist-arrivals-in-middle-east-countries/