Religious tourism continues supporting sector growth

Saudi Arabia’s Tourism Minister Ahmed Al-Khateeb revealed that tourism activity declined by approximately 5–6% during the first five months of 2026 due to regional geopolitical tensions.

Despite the slowdown, religious tourism remains strong, with millions of pilgrims continuing to visit Makkah and Madinah for Umrah and Hajj. Officials remain confident that tourism growth will recover as regional conditions improve.

Source

Reuters – 19 June 2026