ABHA: The Aseer region of Saudi Arabia has emerged as the top destination for cultural tourism in the Kingdom, according to the 2023 Report on the State of Culture, published by the Ministry of Culture.
The Saudi Press Agency (SPA) on Thursday reported the area attracted significant visitors, with over 541,544 local trips to museums and art galleries last year.
One of the primary factors contributing to Aseer’s success is the area’s growing number of private museums and cultural centers showing Al-Qatt Al-Asiri, the region’s renowned traditional interior wall decoration, traditional crafts, and honey production.
Aseer has a distinctive southern heritage and positioned it as a leading cultural tourism destination in the Kingdom.
Aseer region’s market share for local and incoming tourist trips that included cultural activities touched 45 percent, second only to the Al-Baha region.
In 2023, the total number of local and visiting tourists taking part in cultural activities in Saudi Arabia reached approximately 35.2 million, a substantial increase from 22.9 million in 2022. Inbound cultural tourism witnessed remarkable growth, with 13.77 million visitors in 2023, a 145 percent increase from the previous year.
The report attributed this growth to many factors, including regulatory reforms in the tourism sector, such as the introduction of visitor visa regulations, as well as the development and rehabilitation of historical sites.
