Connecting People: Dubai gets largest share of KSA visitors during mid-term break

Dubai gets largest share of KSA visitors during mid-term break | Arab News — Saudi Arabia News, Middle East News, Opinion, Economy and more. Last updated 26 min 30 sec ago

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Published — Monday 20 January 2014

Last update 20 January 2014 1:53 am

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Travel and tourism specialists have said that around 200,000 Saudis traveled to Dubai during the midterm holiday, constituting 70 to 80 percent of the total number of Saudis who traveled abroad.
Flights to Dubai were packed, according to experts in the tourism market.
According to a survey conducted by the Riyadh Chamber for Commerce and Industry’s tourism committee, over 4.6 million Saudis spent their holidays abroad last year, spending over SR8 billion.
Walid Al-Subaie, deputy president of the Travel and Tourism Agency Committee, said Dubai was the most popular destination for Saudi tourists. “Flights were fully booked during the first five days of the holiday, which began last Thursday,” he said.
“There was a 100-percent flight occupancy rate from Riyadh to Dubai. Saudis of all classes like going to Dubai, especially since Beirut has been completely excluded from this season’s tourist map owing to political instability,” Al-Subaie said.
Only around 20 percent of Saudis from the upper class spend their holidays in Switzerland, Germany, the United Kingdom and France.
“Sharm Al-Sheikh has appeared on Saudis’ tourist map,” Al-Subaie said.
“Many Saudi families were forced to go to Sharm Al-Sheikh after flights to Dubai became packed. Sharm Al-Sheikh has become Saudis’ second most preferred travel destination. Hong Kong has recently entered the Saudi tourist map as well.”
Al-Subaie also said Hong Kong turned into a favorite destination for Saudis after the country facilitated their entry process. “Saudis can enter the country with their maids without visas. In addition, it offers reasonable prices,” he said.
Mhaidib Al-Mhaidib, a member of the committee, agreed with Al-Subaie. “Dubai is a favorite destination this season. Saudi families prefer to go to Dubai because it has entertainment facilities and commercial centers, in addition to its proximity to the Kingdom.”
“Around 70 percent of Saudis went to Dubai, while the remaining 30 percent was distributed among Turkey, Egypt and Malaysia,” Al-Mhaidib said.
Many citizens went on internal trips to Jeddah and the Eastern Province owing the short duration of the vacation. “Citizens living in the central part of the Kingdom went to Jeddah because of its moderate climate at this time of year, while others went to the Eastern Province.”
The 200,000-figure is expected to be even higher since many travel to neighboring Bahrain by car.

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