Methodology and Quality Update

Latest Update on Methodology and Quality

20/07/2026

Statistical Presentation

Data description

Tourism Establishments Statistics provide detailed and up-to-date data on the status of the tourism sector. They aim to monitor the performance of tourism establishments and employees engaged in tourism activities, in addition to indicators of licensed tourism hospitality facilities across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its administrative regions.
These are statistics compiled on the main characteristics as follows:

• Tourism establishments and their characteristics.
• Employees in tourism activities and their characteristics.
• Licensed tourism hospitality facilities.
• Room occupancy rate in tourism hospitality facilities.
• Average daily room rate in tourism hospitality facilities.
• Length of stay in tourism hospitality facilities.
  Data is also used to estimate:
• Contribution of employees in tourism activities to the total employees in the economy.
• The contribution of employees in tourism activities to the total number of employees in the private sector.
• The contribution of employees in tourism activities to the total number of employees in the public and private sectors (excluding domestic workers).

 Classifications

The National Classification of Economic Activities (SSIC) is applied in Tourism Establishments Statistics:
It is a statistical classification based on the International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities (ISIC4) and is used to describe the productive activities of an establishment.
The classifications are available on the GASTAT’s website:
The National Classification for Economic Activities

Statistical concepts and definitions

Terms and concepts of tourism establishments statistics:

• Statistical unit: 
  It is the smallest independent part of the overall framework on which the statistical study is conducted. It has a fixed location and is used as a basis for data collection.
• Establishment:
  An economic work unit with a legal entity, having a fixed location where a specific economic activity is carried out. It is owned by an individual, a group of individuals, a company, or a semi-governmental sector. The establishment is the smallest economic unit for which data on employees and their financial compensation, expenses, revenues, and capital formations are available. The publication covers establishments with employees based on the data of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development.
• Employees:
  All individuals (Saudis and non-Saudis) who actually perform work in the establishment, whether paid or unpaid, including the owners of the establishment, their relatives, or employees. This includes those working full-time or part-time, on a permanent or temporary basis, male or female.
• Compensation of employees payable: 
  All amounts payable periodically by the establishment to its employees during the year, including wages and salaries for normal working hours, fixed allowances provided to them, in addition to all types of benefits and allowances, such as housing allowance, social security, insurance, transportation allowance, etc.
• Salaries and wages:
  They are all cash payments, which are paid regularly by the establishment to its employees in return for their normal work hours, as well as fixed allowances granted to them, before any deductions are made by the employer in terms of taxes and employees' contributions to the social security and pension schemes, life insurance installments, union fees, and other obligations of employees.
• Benefits and allowances: 
  All cash and in-kind payments provided by the employer to its employees, excluding wages and salaries. These payments include all types of allowances and benefits, such as scholarships, education payments, medical treatment for employees and their dependents, as well as payments for meals or accommodation, transportation allowance, overtime allowance, etc.
• Licensed tourism hospitality facilities:
  Facilities used by tourists temporarily for accommodation in return for payment include facilities licensed by the Ministry of Tourism in the Kingdom.
• Hotels:
  They refer to hotels and resorts licensed by the Ministry of Tourism in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
• Serviced apartments and other hospitality facilities:
  They refer to all tourism hospitality facilities licensed by the Ministry of Tourism in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, other than hotels and resorts. Serviced apartments are among the main categories of these facilities.
• Tourist:
  A tourist is a person who spends at least one night outside his usual environment.

Data sources

Tourism Establishments Statistics are based on several data sources, as follows:
Primary source of Tourism Establishments Statistics: Administrative records from the following entities:

• Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development.

• Ministry of Tourism.

  The main published variables from the administrative data source are:

• Number of tourism establishments.
• Number of employees in tourism activities.
• Number of licensed tourism hospitality facilities.
• Room occupancy rate in tourism hospitality facilities.
• Average daily room rate in tourism hospitality facilities.
• Average length of stay of guests in tourism hospitality facilities.
  Secondary data source for Tourism Establishments Statistics consists of the following secondary data:
• Labor Market Administrative Statistics.
• Structural Business Statistics.
  The main variables published from secondary data are:
• The contribution of employees in tourism activities to the total number of employees in the economy.
• The contribution of employees in tourism activities to the total number of employees in the private sector.
• The contribution of employees in tourism activities to the total number of employees in the public and private sectors (excluding domestic workers).

Designing the data collection tool

Administrative records data were collected using standardized data request tables submitted to the data-owning entities to obtain periodic, harmonized, and documented data derived from the relevant administrative records.

Questionnaire test (cognitive test)

Not applicable, as Tourism Establishments Statistics are register-based and rely on the administrative data available from the relevant entities.

Statistical population

The statistical population of Tourism Establishments Statistics consists of two interrelated populations with key characteristics, developed based on an integrated approach, as follows:
First: Comprehensive enumeration of establishments and employees in tourism activities.
It includes all tourism establishments with employees that are registered in the administrative records of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, as well as employees affiliated with establishments whose activities are classified as tourism activities according to the establishment's main economic activity. The main activity is determined based on the most localized activity (i.e., the activity with the highest proportion of Saudi employees within the establishment) for statistical classification purposes.
Second: Comprehensive enumeration of licensed tourism hospitality facilities.
It includes all tourism hospitality facilities licensed by the Ministry of Tourism during the reference period, representing approximately 75% of the total facilities registered with the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development. This population is used to calculate the capacity and operational indicators of tourism hospitality facilities in Saudi Arabia.

Sample design

Not applicable, as the product is register-based and relies on the administrative data available from the relevant entities and on secondary data from other products published by GASTAT.

Statistical unit (sampling)

The statistical unit for Tourism Establishments Statistics is the tourism establishment or the individual employee engaged in tourism activities.

Data collection

Data collection from administrative records:
The data are collected from administrative records in coordination with GASTAT's departments responsible for data collection and management. The administrative records for the Tourism Establishments Statistics publication are obtained from the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development and the Ministry of Tourism. These records include data on the number of establishments and employees in tourism activities, as well as tourism hospitality facility indicators. 
The data are stored in GASTAT’s databases after auditing and review processes, in accordance with approved statistical methods and recognized quality standards. The data source is consulted in case of any detected errors or observations.

Data collection frequency 

The data collection process for the Tourism Establishments Statistics is conducted on a quarterly basis.

Reference area

Tourism Establishments Statistics cover all 13 administrative regions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Reference period (time reference)

All data related to Tourism Establishments Statistics are based on the period from the first day to the last day of the reference quarter in 2026.

Base period

Not applicable, as the Tourism Establishments Statistics publication provides data and indicators on a periodic basis to measure changes over time and does not compare them to a fixed base period.

Measurement unit

• Some results are measured in numbers, such as number of employees.
• Some indicators are calculated as rates, such as room occupancy rate.
• Some indicators are calculated in SAR ( ), such as average daily room rate.
• Some results are calculated as percentages, such as contribution of employees in tourism activities to total employment in the economy.

Time coverage

Data are available from 2010 to 2026.

Publication frequency

Results of Tourism Establishments Statistics are published quarterly in accordance with the approved statistical plan.

Statistical processing

Error detection

Review and validation processes are conducted on administrative records data after they are received and stored in the data lake, through the application of a set of systematic procedures to ensure their quality, accuracy, and consistency.
These included the following:

• Identifying illogical or out-of-range values, such as inconsistent quantities or totals.
• Tabulating the data to verify their accuracy, with reference to the primary data source whenever any errors or observations related to data quality are identified.
• Reviewing the internal consistency of the data to verify the logical consistency of the interrelationships.
• Comparing the data with previous data to verify its validity and initiate the data processing stage, including the extraction and review of results.

Data integration and matching from multiple sources 

Statistical survey data is integrated with administrative records using standardized classifications (such as the National Classification of Economic Activities) to ensure consistency in defining the statistical unit and the main activity.
In cases where discrepancies between sources are identified, the causes of variation are analyzed, and reference is made to the most complete or most recent data source in accordance with approved internal guidelines.

Imputation and calibration

In cases of missing values in the administrative data, temporal and logical consistency are verified, and the data-owning entity is referred to when necessary. Secondary data are used as a complementary reference in limited cases to ensure integration among data sources.
The statistical processing procedures described above aim to reduce processing errors and enhance the internal consistency of the data. However, these procedures do not eliminate all sources of statistical uncertainty, as risks associated with coverage limitations, administrative records limitations, and exceptional estimation periods may remain. These aspects are discussed in detail in Section six (Quality dimensions – accuracy and reliability).
Data sources for the main indicators and statistical estimates applied in Tourism Establishments Statistics:
 

Seasonal adjustments

Periodic analyses compare results with those from the same period of the previous year to ensure an accurate interpretation of changes. Standard seasonal adjustment methods are applied only when necessary and in accordance with approved statistical methodologies.

Adjustment of preliminary results 

Some results may be published on a preliminary basis and are subsequently subject to revision when more complete data becomes available or after the completion of verification processes. Any significant differences between preliminary and final results are disclosed to ensure transparency.

Quality dimensions

Suitability

A standard that measures the extent to which the product meets the needs of users.

User needs 

Internal users at GASTAT of Tourism Establishments Statistics data:

• Statistics of national accounts.
• Business, investment, and international trade Statistics.
  Several external users significantly benefit from the data of the Tourism Establishments Statistics, including:
• Government entities.
• Regional and international organizations.
• Research institutions.
• Media.
• Individuals. 
  Key variables utilized by external users: 

 Completeness 

The Tourism Establishments Statistics data are based on several sources, including administrative records and secondary data, to provide comprehensive information on tourism activities in Saudi Arabia. These data are characterized by a high level of coverage within the scope of the approved data systems, noting that coverage remains subject to the limitations of the statistical framework and the data sources used.
The data may not include some informal establishments or newly registered establishments that have not yet been included in the administrative records. Coverage may also be affected by the timing of updates to the data sources. Continuous efforts are made to update the statistical frameworks and enhance integration among sources to improve the level of coverage over time.

Accuracy and reliability 

A criterion that measures the closeness of calculations or estimates to the accurate or true values that reflect reality.

Accuracy overview 

The accuracy of Tourism Establishments Statistics reflects the extent to which the published estimates are close to the actual values in reality, taking into account that the data may be affected by factors such as coverage limitations and differences in the nature of data sources. The level of accuracy is assessed through a set of validation and verification procedures designed to detect unusual changes and ensure the logical and temporal consistency of the data.

• The data are examined against previous years to identify any significant changes that may reflect unjustified differences or effects associated with data collection or processing operations.
• Internal consistency of the data is verified before finalizing them, including the consistency of totals with details and the logical relationships among variables.
• Relationships between variables are examined, and consistency across different data series is verified, contributing to reducing the impact of unjustified variation over time.
  Despite the application of these procedures, a limited degree of statistical uncertainty may remain, particularly during exceptional periods (such as the COVID-19 pandemic) or when changes occur in data sources. However, these effects are not expected to significantly affect the overall trends of the indicators.

Timeliness and punctuality 

A standard that measures the time gap between the availability of information and the occurrence of the event.
However, timeliness reflects the time difference between the date of data publication and the target date when it is actually published.

Timeliness 

GASTAT is committed to applying internationally recognized standards regarding the announcement and clarification of the time of publishing statistics on its official website, as outlined in the statistical calendar, as well as adhering to the announced time of publication. In the event of any delay, updates will be provided accordingly. 

Punctuality 

The publication is released according to the dates specified in the statistical calendar for Tourism Establishments Statistics published on GASTAT's website.
The data are available at the expected time, as scheduled in the statistical release calendar. If the publication is delayed, reasons shall be provided.

Coherence and comparability

Statistics should be consistent internally and over time, and logically interconnected across scope and statistical domains, meaning that data should be comparable across regions and countries as well as across different time periods for the same region, and data from diverse sources can be combined and used interchangeably.

Comparability - geographical

The data are internationally and locally comparable at the level of the administrative regions of Saudi Arabia, due to their reliance on standardized statistical standards and classifications.

Comparability - over time 

Tourism Establishments Statistics started in 2010 as annual statistics and have since undergone several methodological developments related to data sources and publication periodicity. Users should take these developments into account when making comparisons over time, especially when analyzing long-term series.
Statistics have undergone the following stages:

• 2010 – 2016:
  Primary reliance on the results of the Economic Survey of Establishments.
• 2016 – 2018:
  Primary reliance on the Tourism Establishments Survey.
• 2019 – 2020:
  Increased reliance on administrative records and statistical models due to the COVID-19 pandemic
• 2021 – 2022:
  Integration of administrative records and Tourism Establishments Survey results.
• Since 2023:
  Reliance on administrative records and secondary data, with a shift to quarterly publication.
  Despite maintaining core definitions and classifications, such as ISIC Rev.4, changes in data sources or publication periodicity may affect the precise comparability between some periods. The nature of the indicators should also be taken into account when making comparisons, as some indicators represent point-in-time measures, while others are calculated as period averages.
  In general, overall trends remain comparable over time, provided that changes are interpreted in light of the methodological and economic context of each period.

Coherence - cross domain

Tourism Establishments Statistics data is consistent across different administrative regions, as the same definitions, concepts, and classifications are applied. It is also verified that data collected from all sources is subject to standardized verification procedures to ensure comparability across administrative regions and tourism activities. 

Coherence- annual and sub-annual statistics 

Tourism Establishments Statistics are published quarterly starting from the first quarter of 2023. For some indicators used for annual purposes (such as the number of employees and the number of tourism hospitality facilities), the annual value represents the value of the fourth quarter of the reference year, as it reflects the status of the indicator at the end of the period. It is not calculated by aggregating or averaging the quarterly data.
In contrast, performance indicators for tourism hospitality facilities—such as the room occupancy rate, average daily room rate, and average length of stay—are calculated for analytical purposes as annual rates, based on quarterly data during the reference year, to reflect the overall performance of the indicator throughout the year.
In addition, the Tourism Establishments Survey is conducted annually to support the quality of estimates and enhance the integration of data sources. Its results are used, when needed, for methodological validation purposes or to support estimation processes.
Users should take into account that annual indicators differ in their calculation methods depending on their nature; some represent point-in-time measures (end-of-period measures), while others are calculated as annual averages reflecting average performance over the year. This does not indicate a difference in the methodological framework, but rather relates to the nature of each indicator. 

Coherence- national accounts 

The publication data is aligned with the requirements of national accounts through the use of standard economic classifications (such as the International Standard Industrial Classification (ISIC)). The results of this publication are also used as inputs in estimating the contribution of the tourism sector to GDP within the framework of the national accounts. In addition, coordination is carried out with National Accounts Statistics to ensure consistency between the publication results and the macroeconomic indicators.

Coherence- internal 

Estimates of Tourism Establishments Statistics have a high degree of internal consistency due to their reliance on the same data sources and estimation methods, while taking into account that some minor differences may arise as a result of periodic updates or revisions.

Accessibility and clarity

Users' accessibility to data, the availability of microdata or aggregated data, and the availability of the Methodology and Quality Report.

News

Announcements for each publication are available in the statistical calendar, as mentioned in Section 9.1. Access to the statistical calendar and press releases can also be viewed on GASTAT’s website. 
News

Publications

GASTAT issues Tourism Establishments Statistics publications and reports regularly according to a pre-prepared publication plan, which are published on GASTAT’s website. GASTAT ensures that its results are published in a manner that serves all users of different types, including publications in various formats containing (publication tables, data and indicator charts, and the Methodology and Quality Report) in both English and Arabic.
Results of Tourism Establishments Statistics are available on:
Tourism Establishments Statistics 

Online database

Not available.

Microdata accessibility

Not available.

References and standards

GASTAT follows a unified methodology in implementing all its statistical activities, in line with the nature of each statistical product.  It relies on the Generic Statistical Business Process Model (GSBPM), which aligns with the procedures adopted by international organizations, and is implemented in coordination with relevant authorities to ensure the quality and efficiency of statistical operations. For more details, you can refer to the Generic Statistical Business Process Model (GSBPM) via the following link:
Generic Statistical Business Process Model (GSBPM)
In addition, the concepts, definitions, issues, and classifications are based on the international standards of the United Nations Tourism, as represented by the following:
International recommendations for Tourism Statistics 2008:
It is the comprehensive methodological framework and guideline for the collection and production of tourism statistics in all countries, regardless of the level of development of their statistical systems, and it is the approved statistical reference for tourism statistics.
https://unstats.un.org/unsd/publication/seriesm/seriesm_83rev1e.pdf 
International Recommendations for Tourism Statistics 2008 (Compilation Guide):
It is the compilation guide that provides further explanations and practical guidance on the use of sources and methods for compiling tourism-related statistics. It is designed to support the production of a high-quality set of key data and indicators in each country and to enhance the international comparability of tourism statistics.
https://unstats.un.org/unsd/tourism/publications/E-IRTS-Comp-Guide%202008%20For%20Web.pdf 
Tourism Satellite Account: Recommended Methodological Framework 2008:
It is the methodological guide for developing the Tourism Satellite Account (TSA) in countries and provides comprehensive details for measuring the tourism demand and supply sides and deriving indicators of tourism economic contribution.
seriesf_80rev1e.pdf
Statistical Framework for Measuring the Sustainability of Tourism 2024 (Final Draft):
It is an internationally agreed framework that describes the key concepts, definitions, and data organization structures to support the production and organization of data on the impacts of tourism and its dependencies on the economy, society, and environment.
 .BG-4a-SF-MST-E.pdf
Measuring Employment in the Tourism Industries 2014:
It is an international framework that sets out the concepts, definitions, and methodologies for measuring the volume of tourism-related employment, with the aim of providing accurate data to support policies and sustainable development.
https://www.e-unwto.org/doi/epdf/10.18111/9789284416158 

Quality assurance

GASTAT ensures adherence to the following principles:  Impartiality, a user-oriented statistical product, quality of processes and outputs, effectiveness of statistical processes, and reduced respondent burden. 
Data validation is performed through quality procedures and controls implemented throughout the process at different phases, such as data entry, data collection, and other final controls.

Quality assessment

GASTAT carries out all statistical activities in accordance with the National Model (Generic Statistical Business Process Model, GSBPM). During the comprehensive evaluation phase, which is the final phase of the GSBPM, the information collected during each phase or sub-process is used to prepare the evaluation report, which summarizes all quality-related challenges associated with each statistical process and serves as an input for improvement and development procedures.

Confidentiality

Confidentiality - policy

According to Royal Decree No. 23 dated 07/12/1379, data must always be kept confidential and must be used by GASTAT for statistical purposes only.
Therefore, the data is protected in the data servers of GASTAT.

Confidentiality - Data Treatment

Data of SMEs survey are presented in right tables in order to summarize, understand, as well as extract their results. Moreover, to compare them with other data, and to obtain statistical significance about the selected study population. However, referring to such data indicated in tables is much easier than going back to check the original questionnaire that may include some data like names and addresses of individuals, and names of data providers, which violates the confidentiality of statistical data.
“Anonymity of data” is one of the most important procedures. To keep data confidential,

GASTAT removed information on individual persons, households, or business entities in such a way that the respondent cannot be identified either directly, such as by name, address, contact number, identity number, etc., or indirectly by combining different, especially rare, characteristics of respondents, such as age, occupation, education, etc.

Dissemination policy

Statistical calendar

Tourism Establishment Statistics are included in the statistical calendar.   
Statistical Calendar

User accessibility

One of GASTAT’s objectives is to better meet its clients’ needs; therefore, it provides them with the results of the Tourism Establishments Statistics publication immediately upon release.
GASTAT also receives clients' questions and inquiries regarding the publication and its results through various communication channels, including:

• GASTAT’s official website:  www.stats.gov.sa
• GASTAT's official email address:  info@stats.gov.sa
• Client support e-mail address: info@stats.gov.sa
• Official visits to GASTAT’s headquarters in Riyadh or to any of its branches in Saudi Arabia.
• Official letters.
• Statistical telephone: (199009).