The Saudi Arabian traveller is making headlines again. According to Visa’s Global Travel Intentions Study 2015, the Kingdom’s globetrotters take more overseas trips and plan to spend more in future than their regional and global peers.
The findings come in Visa’s Global Travel Intentions Study 2015 that also shows that the travellers from the Asia Pacific region took more leisure trips in the past two years than any of the other countries surveyed. Travellers from China, India and Australia are likely to be the top spenders from Asia Pacific countries on their next trip as they are likely to spend USD 4,501 each. This makes them rank third globally behind travellers from the United States and Saudi Arabia, which according to the study are likely to spend USD 5,501 each.
Saudi Arabia is the only country in the Middle East and North Africa to figure in the survey. At least 4.5 million Saudi tourists spend over SR 80 billion every year when they go abroad. This is six times higher than their Western counterparts, making them the highest spenders worldwide. Secretary General of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities’ Media Center and Expert in Tourism Affairs Khalid Al-Dughaim said, “International tourism has become very popular in Saudi Arabia. In order to make the kingdom also a tourist destination, “the domestic tourism industry is tackling the obstacles it has in order to enhance its services.”
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabian travellers are increasingly becoming the most valuable clients for countries all over the world. Switzerland had been holding tourism roadshows in Saudi Arabia for over a decade and have even launched the Arabic version of the government’s official government website. Other countries in Europe are too following their footsteps. In fact, Saudi Arabian travellers are not just on the radar of the United States and Europe but are being wooed by the governments of their neighboring countries as well. The tourism sectors of many countries in Middle East and North Africa are tapping into the high-spending Saudi Arabian market. This includes the likes of Egypt, Oman, Qatar and United Arab Emirates.
