Saudi Arabia Tops in Tourism Growth at G20 Ministers of Tourism Summit Held in Brazil

Saturday, September 21, 2024

On the eve of the official G20 Ministers of Tourism meeting, a significant side event was held, urging a fresh approach to tourism policy and governance with a focus on people and the planet. Hosted under Brazil’s G20 Presidency, high-level representatives from countries including Azerbaijan, Canada, Chile, India, Indonesia, Jamaica, Saudi Arabia, Spain, and the USA, along with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), came together. They emphasized the powerful role tourism plays in both the global economy and society and highlighted its untapped potential to contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) while helping to reduce inequalities within and among nations.

Opening the event Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili applauded Brazil’s G20 Presidency focus on inclusion and sustainability and said “The challenges ahead of us are immense. As so are the opportunities offered by a sector that creates jobs and brings people together like no other. Yet, to really transform our sector, we need new policies and new governance models. We need to place communities and the environment at the centre of our polices and we need stronger coordination of all government agencies as well as among national and local stakeholders.”

Minister of Tourism of Brazil, Celso Sabino said “UN Tourism is bringing to Belem, an essential debate for the tourism sector but also for the world. Sustainability is a priority for the government of the President of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and tourism when developed in a responsible manner, protecting the environment, culture and history, is the most prosperous way for the development of nations. And Brazil is leading this so much needed and urgent debate. We are very happy to host the G20 Tourism here at the heart of the Amazon, the capital of Pará.”

A Call for Rethinking Tourism

Amidst a complex array of global challenges, participants at the event recognized that with tourism’s growth comes a rise in multidimensional externalities. These externalities demand a thorough rethinking of how tourism is planned, governed, and managed. The event emphasized three key takeaways:

1. New Governance Models: Attendees agreed that a new approach to governance is needed. This includes regular consultation with local residents, enhanced coordination among government agencies, and close collaboration between national and local authorities, as well as the private sector.
2. Targeted, Inclusive Policies: Ministers underscored the importance of crafting policies that address gender equality, social inclusion, job creation, climate change, circular economy practices, nature-positive initiatives, and regional development across all aspects of tourism.
3. Measuring the Impact of Tourism: A crucial aspect of tourism’s sustainability is accurate measurement. Participants celebrated the recent approval of the UN’s Statistical Framework for Measuring the Sustainability of Tourism. This tool will aid in evaluating tourism’s economic, social, and environmental impacts, both nationally and locally.

G20 Ministers Lead the Way

G20 countries represent a significant portion of global tourism, accounting for over 70% of international tourist arrivals and tourism receipts, and 82% of the sector’s global GDP. In 2023, tourism directly contributed 3.1% of the G20’s GDP (USD 2.8 trillion) and generated 5% of all exports from the group. The sector’s service exports, worth USD 1.3 trillion, constituted 23% of all G20 service exports.

The numbers demonstrate the G20’s outsized role in global tourism: in 2023, these economies welcomed 900 million international tourist arrivals. By the first seven months of 2024, tourist arrivals across G20 countries had reached 97% of pre-pandemic levels. Several nations, including Saudi Arabia (+73%), Türkiye (+15%), Spain (+11%), Japan (+7%), and Brazil (+1%), led this resurgence, surpassing 2019 numbers and setting the stage for further growth.

Voices Shaping Global Tourism

The side event featured key speakers from the world’s top tourism economies. Among them were Mr. Kanan Gasimov, Head of Administration for Azerbaijan’s State Tourism Agency, and several ministers, including HE Soraya Martinez Ferrada from Canada, HE Verónica Pardo from Chile, HE Gajendra Singh Shekhawat from India, and HE Martini M. Paham from Indonesia. Also present were HE Edmund Bartlett from Jamaica, HE Sultan AlMusallam from Saudi Arabia, HE Jordi Hereu Boher from Spain, HE Alex Lasry from the USA, and Pedro Martel from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). Each leader contributed valuable perspectives on how tourism can play a more active role in fostering sustainable development, addressing inequality, and supporting long-term economic resilience.

With G20 economies serving as global tourism leaders, their call for people-focused, planet-friendly policies could set the stage for transformational shifts in tourism governance and management. Ministers emphasized the importance of ensuring that tourism supports not only economic growth but also social inclusion and environmental sustainability, ensuring a better future for all.

By building on this vision, tourism can emerge not just as a tool for economic recovery, but as a driver of positive social and environmental change, aligned with global efforts to meet the SDGs and address pressing inequalities across the world. The side event ended with a renewed commitment from the global tourism leaders to make sustainable tourism a reality through enhanced governance, targeted policies, and more effective measurement of tourism’s impact.

This commitment marks an important step in placing people and the planet at the heart of global tourism’s future. The discussions in this side event will undoubtedly shape the forthcoming G20 Ministers of Tourism meeting, as they chart a course for a more inclusive and sustainable tourism sector.

In a remarkable achievement, Saudi Arabia has surpassed its ambitious Vision 2030 tourism goal of attracting 100 million visitors annually by 2023, seven years ahead of schedule. Lauded by the World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism), this extraordinary feat signifies the Kingdom’s emergence as a global tourism hub and its dedication to sustainable development. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) also acknowledged this in its 2024 Article IV Consultation report, highlighting unprecedented growth in Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector, which has contributed significantly to the national economy.

The milestone includes over 27 million international tourists and 79 million domestic visitors, with combined expenditures exceeding USD 67 billion. This success underscores Saudi Arabia’s robust tourism industry and reflects the Ministry of Tourism’s focus on advanced data collection and statistical analysis, aligning with the priorities of UN Tourism. Saudi Arabia’s leadership in tourism growth was a central theme at the G20 Ministers of Tourism Summit, marking the Kingdom’s pivotal role in shaping the future of global tourism.