Saudi Arabia’s Holy Cities led Ramadan’s economic growth with a 162% rise in visitor spending in Makkah, per Visa’s Travel Pulse Q1 2025. Religious tourism is boosting the non-oil economy, supporting Vision 2030. GCC visitors, especially from the UAE, drove increases in visitor numbers and spending. Dining, retail, and fashion were top categories, with peak activity after Iftar. Merchants are encouraged to enhance services for religious travelers and embrace digital payments.
Anamika Chauhan is a Senior Content Writer at TBO Academy. Specializing in B2B content, she works closely with the marketing team to bring out the outlook about the industry in her write-ups. Connect with her on LinkedIn or write to her at anamika.chauhan@tbo.com