Mecca Hotel Sector Income Down $267mm

However, according to a Q4 study by Business Monitor International (BMI), religious tourism will drive tourism industry growth in Saudi Arabia by an estimated 6 percent every year until 2013. The BMI report maintains that although there are strict entrance and visa regulations the industry has strong potential. BMU predicts the number of hotel rooms in Saudi Arabia will increase to 321,000 by 2013, and that tourism arrivals in the country will remain constant at slightly over 12 million.