Tourism has received a lot of attention and development in Saudi Arabia over the past few years. With a population of over 30 million, Saudi Arabia’s leaders have made the wise decision to capture some of the tourist dollars being spent elsewhere and boost their own economy.
Some entertainment facilities are already completed, while many more are under construction or on the drawing board, all intended to cater not only to foreign tourists but also to the millions of local residents who visit each year.
One thing that is unique about the GCC is that summers are hot and school holidays last for more than two months, making planning a short getaway, preferably somewhere cool, an annual challenge for householders.
And this week, as summer vacation officially begins for schoolchildren, hundreds of thousands of families are busily preparing to spend the holidays somewhere.
Read more by Tariq A. Al Maeena
Summer heat and exotic charm
To understand the nature of tourism in this country, one must understand why most families still travel abroad. In the past, it was the attractions of shopping, cinemas, etc. But all that has now been resolved. So what is the reason? Is it the summer heat, the allure of the exotic, force of habit, or is it just that?
I met a few people who were planning to travel abroad. Kais, a professor at a local university, was flying to Malaysia with his family. This wasn’t the first time he and his family had been to the same destination. He found the people here to be friendly, the cost of living to be reasonable, and there was plenty of entertainment for his growing children.
Burhan, a city hall employee, is heading to Egypt. “I like Egypt for its diversity and friendliness. Can you tell me where there are such places nearby? Syria, which was previously my first choice, is no longer an option. My children are interested in history and Egypt’s ancient civilizations and historical artifacts will give them the opportunity to see them first-hand.”
Rana, a housewife from Taif, said: “I remember when I was a child, my father would take the whole family on trips to the hill resorts of Abba and Sauda. Even in the hottest months of the year, we would camp on the hillsides and enjoy the cool morning mist. But when I go there now, there are hardly any places that are not surrounded by private walls.”
“What more could you want?”
Samir, an architect, travels to Cape Town, South Africa, with his family. “We love the sea, the beach and the sound of the waves. Cape Town has it all: cool weather, affordable prices and attractions to keep the kids entertained. And the people are genuinely friendly to tourists. What more could you want?”
“Certainly, there are hundreds of miles of coastline on both the east and west sides of this country,” he continued, “but are they accessible to the public?”
Leila, a university student from Jeddah, says: “I go to Paris with my family. Why? Because I love art and it’s the city of art. And I love seeing all these different people from all over the world wandering around the city minding their own business. And the food is… amazing.”
While the Supreme Committee for Tourism is active in promoting tourism within Saudi Arabia, it may also listen to those who choose to spend their holiday money abroad. Friendliness, facilities, places of historical and general interest, and price appear to be the most important factors.
Give people what they want here and you will see people flock to your place.
Tariq A. Al-Maina is a Saudi Arabian socio-political commentator.
