Medina, Saudi Arabia experiences a significant 18.7% increase in tourist visits in the year 2024.
Medina's Sharp Tourism Boom
This ain't just a simple tourist trap, dawg. Medina's tourism sector is on fire, and it's attracting more visitors than you can shake a stick at.
According to a recent report by the Medina Chamber of Commerce, the city welcomed a whopping 18 million visitors in 2024. That's an impressive 18.7% increase from the previous year, and it ain't stopping there. Remember when the city had just 8.2 million visitors in 2022? Seems like a different era now.
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The report attributes the rise in visitor numbers to the boom across the accommodation, travel agency, and tour operation sectors, which also grew by 18.7% in 2024[1]. This surge isn't just good for business; it's a significant driver of economic growth and job creation.
Wanna know what's got everyone flocking to Medina?
Well, for starters, the city's packed with approximately 400 religious, historical, and cultural landmarks[1]. Key sites include the Prophet’s Mosque, the Quba Mosque, Mount Uhud, various museums, exhibitions, valleys, wells, archaeological sites, and restored historical locations. So, if you're looking for a dose of history and culture, Medina's got it in spades.
But wait, there's more
Improved air connectivity has made it even easier to get to Medina, increasing global demand for travel to the city[1]. In fact, more than 151.6 million airline seats were booked for Hajj in 2025, with a 3% year-on-year increase, demonstrating the improvement in transport infrastructure[1].
It's not just the government investing in Medina's tourism potential. Private sector entities are putting their money where their mouth is too, making sure there are new hotels, facilities, and experiences for travelers[1][3]. And with some clever policy reforms and marketing campaigns, the Saudi Ministry of Tourism is making sure that Medina and Saudi Arabia are on travelers' radars around the world[3].
All of this growth means good things for the economy. Tourism activities across Saudi Arabia, including lodging, travel agencies, transportation, shopping, and services, contributed approximately SR284 billion to the economy in 2024, with a 19% increase in international visitor spending, and Medina playing a significant role[3][5].
So, if you're looking for a cultural adventure, pack your bags and head to Medina. It ain't just the city, it's an experience you don't wanta miss.
Huda Ata, your UAE-based storyteller
