Saudi tourists spend SR11.2b in Q1

Saudi Gazette report JEDDAH — The Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage reported Saudi tourists spent around SR11.2 billion during the first quarter of 2016, Al-Madina reported. Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage Center for Information and Tourism Research Director General Munthir Al-Ansari said the Kingdom had a total of 5.2 million national and international tourists. “There were a total of 3.7 million Saudi tourists and a total of 1.5 non-Saudi tourists as well. The Saudi tourists spent a collective total of SR11.2 billion during the first quarter of 2016. Saudi tourists spend an average of 11 days abroad with an average spending per night of SR291. Non-Saudi tourists spent around SR16 billion during the first quarter of 2016,” said Al-Ansari. He also said the most popular destination for tourists from the Kingdom remains the Arabian Gulf countries. “Sixty percent of tourists go to a Gulf country when they are on holiday, 19 percent of tourists go to a country in the Middle East, 11 percent of tourists go to countries in south Asia, 3 percent of tourists go to countries in east Asia and the pacific and 7 percent go to other countries,” said Al-Ansari. Tourism expert Basmah Himaidi said there was a decrease in international flights bookings during the first quarter of 2016. “The rate of international flights bookings in the summer of 2016 has decreased by 30 percent in comparison to the summer of 2015. That is due to the national and international economic decline despite the countless offers and discounts on international flights,” said Himaidi. She added that Dubai is the only Arab country that maintained the same tourism percentage. “Fifty percent of Saudi tourists headed to Dubai in 2015 and 50 percent are heading to Dubai this summer. Bookings to Arab countries such as Egypt, Jordan and others has decreased by 50 percent. Bookings to Turkey has decreased by 20 percent. Bookings to east Asia and Malaysia have decreased by 40 percent,” said Himaidi. She also said bookings to Europe, especially to Switzerland and Austria have increased by 60 percent since 2015.