The Ministry of Tourism revealed a 32% growth in travel and tourism services licenses across various regions of the kingdom by the end of 2024 compared to 2023, reaching a total of 2,853 licenses.
Preliminary data on the numbers and percentages of licenses issued in 2024 show that Riyadh had the highest number of travel and tourism services activity licenses with 955, followed by Makkah with 792, the Eastern region with 472, Al-Madinah with 191, and Al-Qassim with 116.
According to the tourism system, travel and tourism services involve arranging and organizing tourism services, offering travel packages, selling tickets from licensed companies, marketing them, providing visa services or other related travel services, arranging tourist activities, hospitality facilities, and reservations, among others.
A travel and tourism services office is defined as a place where licensed individuals carry out travel and tourism services activities, whether it’s a physical building or an online platform.
Mohammed Al-Rusasama, the official spokesperson for the Ministry of Tourism, confirmed that the significant increase in the number of licenses issued for travel and tourism services is a result of the ministry’s efforts to empower tourism operators, facilitate the process of obtaining the necessary ministry license to practice the activity. This is part of the ministry’s commitment to improving and ensuring the quality of services provided, given the increasing number of tourists from both outside and inside the kingdom. Additionally, this is in line with the “Our Guests are a Priority” campaign aimed at enhancing compliance with tourism regulations and requirements set by the tourism system and its regulations.
