Holland Gulf Chamber of Commerce » tourism

Prince Sultan: Tourism a major contributor to Saudi economy

jochemgeheniau — Fri, 08 Nov 2013 08:09:55 +0000

Saudi Arabia enjoys economic and financial stability under the leadership of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, said Prince Sultan bin Salman, president of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA).
He was speaking to newsmen at the Fifth G-20 Tourism Ministerial meeting in London on Monday.
“Our country enjoys the benefits of resources, which are being used in its development and in the service of its citizens,” said Prince Sultan.
He said that his country’s participation in the ministerial meeting reflects Saudi Arabia’s economic position in the world and especially given the unprecedented growth in the areas of human, political and infrastructural developments that are taking place simultaneously.
Prince Sultan described Saudi tourism as a major contributor to the national economy and said it has been classified as an essential services sector globally. He noted that Saudi Arabia sees a huge market potential in this sector.
“Saudi Arabia, where the Two Holy Mosques are located, is a major travel destination for Arabs and Muslims around the world,” Prince Sultan elaborated.
According to Prince Sultan, the G-20 tourism ministerial meeting aims, among others, to set a common goal among nations wishing to promote tourism as a major sector of the economy intertwined with other sectors such as security.
He pointed out that the global tourism industry has become an essential component in the success of any economy in the world while also providing job opportunities to young men and women.
Prince Sultan revealed that he presented a number of issues at the meeting, including facilitation of tourist visas and matters related to security. He stressed that his country’s priority is domestic tourism which will cater to the guests of the Two Holy Mosques.
Being a spiritual hub where Muslims perform their religious duties and embark on sight-seeing, Saudi Arabia has promoted tourist facilities considerably, he added.

Saudis are world’s biggest spending travelers

jochemgeheniau — Tue, 03 Sep 2013 07:35:35 +0000

JEDDAH – The Saudis are the biggest spending tourists in the world, spending a whopping $6,414 for each of their overseas trip compared to the global average of $2,501, followed by the Australians who come close second with an average of $3,962 spent on each trip, Visa’s latest Global Travel Intentions Study said.

According to the Study, travelers are expected to spend more on their next trip by an average of five percent this year.
The survey conducted on around 13,000 people in 25 countries found that travelers from the Middle East and Africa spend an average of $218 per day during their trip, slightly lower than the global average of $239 per day. The Chinese are third on the list of big spenders at $3,679. Brazilians came fourth spending $2,844 on average per trip. Travelers from South Africa are at the fifth place, shelling out $2,779 on average per person each trip.
Moreover, Saudi tourists have played a role in boosting the UAE economy, which is led by trade and tourism. “Saudi Arabia is the biggest market for Dubai in terms of room occupancy,” said Philip Wooller, area director of STR Global for the Middle East and Africa. Last year, Saudi Arabia topped the source markets with 1,128,757 visitors to Dubai. The number was less in Abu Dhabi, with 70,765 visitors, said Wooller.
According to Visa’s latest Tourism Outlook: UAE report, Saudi Arabian visitors spent $420.4 million on their Visa cards in the UAE last year, up 28.8 percent, taking third spot ahead of the US and China.
Visitors from the Gulf state account for between four and 10 percent of hotels’ annual revenues and between four and 14 percent of retailers’ annual sales, hoteliers and retailers said. Saudi visitors account for between five and six percent of the hotel operator’s annual guests in the UAE, while contributing four per cent of its annual revenue, said Olivier Hick, Accor’s vice-president of operations in the Gulf and Levant countries.