Saudi Arabia has witnessed a fourfold increase in tourism license applications after securing the 2034 FIFA World Cup rights. Recent projections suggest the Kingdom could expect a gross domestic product (GDP) boost of between SAR 33.75 and 52.50 billion (USD 9 – 14 billion), as well as the creation of 1.5 million new jobs.
Saudi Arabia Investing Heavily in Sports Infrastructure
The upsurge was revealed at the inaugural Sports Investment Forum in Riyadh and highlights the growing interest of international tourists. Notably, it comes as Saudi Arabia increases its sports infrastructure investment in alignment with the Saudi Vision 2030. It also aligns with the growing recognition that sports tourism is a key driver of economic development.
Sports Tourists Spent SAR 22 billion in 2024
According to the Saudi Ministry of Tourism, sports tourism accounted for 10% of global tourism expenditure. Future projections expect that figure to grow by 17.5% by the end of this decade. In addition, the Ministry revealed that 14 million tourists visited solely to attend sporting events spending SAR 22 billion (USD 5.86 billion) last year. Further historical data revealed that in 2018, visitors from 70 nationalities visited the Kingdom to attend sporting events. However, today`s number has exceeded 160 thanks to government support, a huge increase in events and an expanded visa policy.
Introducing Public – Private Collaborations
During one of the forum’s panel discussions, the role of the broader tourism ecosystem in supporting the Kingdom’s sporting ambitions was emphasised. Further topics examined ways of contributing to sustainable economic development through public-private collaboration. For Saudi Arabia, key cost drivers include SAR 1.4 billion (USD 378.4 million) for television operations, SAR 1.03 billion (USD 273.8 million) for workforce management and SAR 465 million (USD 124 million) for transport. Further forecasts include SAR 416.2 million (USD 111.1 million) for team services and SAR 373.1 million (USD 99.5 million) for IT and telecommunications, according to a recent FIFA report.
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