Saudi Tourism Minister Ahmed Al-Khateeb and Indonesian Tourism Minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana discussed ways to strengthen tourism relations during a meeting on the sidelines of a United Nations meeting in Toledo, Spain, on Thursday, according to a joint statement from their offices.

Indonesia recorded more than 156,000 Saudi visitors in 2025, making the Kingdom the largest Middle Eastern market for Indonesian tourism, officials said.

“Saudi Arabia is one of Indonesia’s key partners in the Middle East, and Indonesia stands ready to further deepen this partnership, particularly in tourism, in a spirit of mutual respect and shared benefit,” Wardhana said.

Saudi travelers are viewed as an important segment of Indonesia’s tourism market, with officials noting that many visitors from the Kingdom tend to travel with families, spend longer periods in the country and visit destinations including Bali and Puncak.

Indonesia aims to attract at least 16 million foreign tourists this year and has promoted its destinations at international tourism events, including the Arabian Travel Market and Riyadh Travel Fair.

The Indonesian tourism ministry said it plans to improve hospitality training to better serve visitors from Arab countries as part of efforts to increase arrivals from Saudi Arabia.

Tourism has also become a key area of cooperation under Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 strategy, with both countries discussing ways to improve tourism services and strengthen workforce skills.

“Saudi Arabia and Indonesia share a uniquely strong tourism connection through faith and culture,” Al-Khateeb said.

The two sides said they were working to expand tourism exchanges, improve visitor experiences and create opportunities for destinations, businesses and communities.

The sector grew at nearly twice the global rate of 4.1 percent and significantly above the Middle East average of 5.3 percent, reflecting increased investment and policy focus under the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 strategy to diversify the economy beyond oil.Tourism Minister Ahmed Al Khateeb said the growth underscores the impact of sustained investment in destinations, infrastructure and connectivity, adding that the sector is delivering measurable economic returns.

Saudi Arabia has already exceeded its earlier target of attracting 100 million visitors and is now aiming for 150 million annually by the end of the decade. The sector’s $178 billion contribution accounts for nearly half of the Middle East’s total tourism GDP, positioning the Kingdom as the region’s largest market.

International visitor spending rose 8.2 percent in 2025, compared with a global average of 3.2 percent, highlighting strong inbound demand. The WTTC said business travel was a key driver, with spending increasing by more than 55 percent, reflecting Saudi Arabia’s growing role as a hub for corporate events and investment activity.

WTTC President and CEO Gloria Guevara said the region’s performance demonstrated the sector’s importance for economic growth, employment and international connectivity.

Across the region, the United Arab Emirates recorded tourism GDP of $68.5 billion, while Jordan and Oman each posted growth of 5.5 percent, with international visitor spending reaching $8.5 billion and $4 billion respectively.