Saudi Arabia Spends $3.6 Bln on Domestic Tourism in 3 Months

Saudis have spent about 13.5 billion riyals ($3.6 billion) on domestic tourism during the past three months.

Saudi cities have received more than 11.3 million tourism trips, a growth rate of 12 percent compared to previous summers.

The quantity of approaching traveler trips achieved 2.3 million, a development rate of 21.2 percent contrasted with the earlier year while the incomes from visitor trips for this mid year added up to 8.7 billion riyals ($2.23 billion). This bars the costs of tourism trips for religious purposes, the Tourism Information and Research Center (MAS) in Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTH) uncovered on Monday. 

In the interim, MAS information demonstrated a decrease in the use of Saudis voyaging abroad. 

The consumption of withdrawing travelers added up to around 30.5 billion riyals ($8.1billions), a drop by 4.6 percent from 2017, with a normal use of 1,196 riyals for every visitor (318 dollars). 

These figures are steady with the Kingdom's Vision 2030, which plans to increment non-oil incomes and consider the tourism division as appealing for speculation, as indicated by financial examiner and bookkeeping educator at Taif University Dr. Salem Baajaja.

"This year’s figures are only the beginning,” he told Asharq Al-Awsat, adding that the rise in terms of high spending and tourism income growth is in line with the Kingdom’s vision.

“I think the 15 percent increase in tourism will be accompanied by further increases in income growth over the next few years," he added.

According to the report, the Makkah region topped the number of domestic tourism trips by 31 percent, followed by Asir with 18 percent, the Eastern Province by 12 percent and Riyadh by 11 percent.

Regarding the purpose of the domestic tourism trips, entertainment was at the forefront at 51 percent, followed by visiting relatives and friends with 35 percent, shopping with five percent and business with four percent.

The eastern region topped the most popular destinations for tourists by 45 percent, followed by Riyadh by 27 percent and Makkah by 16 percent.