Saudis gear up to spend holidays abroad as inward tourism suffers

Riyadh: As the summer vacation approaches, a large number of Saudi families are gearing up to spend their holidays at various overseas destinations.

Some 3.5 million Saudi tourists are expected to spend about 35 billion Saudi riyals in the current year.

Speaking to reporters here yesterday, Mohaideb Al Moheidab, chairman of the committee for travel and tourism offices at the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said that spending of Saudi families on tourism is three times higher than that of European tourists. "A major chunk of Saudi spending is on foreign tourism. Of the expected spending of 35 billion riyals this year, domestic tourism is expected to fetch only 16 per cent," he said.

Al Moheidab said domestic tourism in the Gulf will receive a shot in the arm over the coming few years, mainly due to the onset of Ramadan. "Three years from now, Ramadan will fall in the middle of the summer vacation and this will produce a positive impact on domestic tourism."