Saudi Arabia’s Bold Global Tourism Efforts Gain Traction But With Locals For Now
Photo Credit: Banyan Tree Resort, AlUla, Saudi Arabia. Photo: Accor
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Saudi Arabia has unwittingly learned that to open its doors to international leisure travelers, a good start is to first open the hearts of its own local population to discover the country's unique destinations.
It turns out that Covid-19 has created a domestic travel smash hit that is unprecedented for Saudi Arabia.
Beyond the much-needed tourism revenue this brings, a surge in locals exploring their own kingdom provides another unexpected gain: improving the kingdom's preparedness to serve international tourists when doors open again, say its industry executives.
This past summer, the eyes of many Saudis were peeled for the first time on destinations in their own country, as Saudi Tourism Authority and the private sector — battered by Covid-19 like everyone else in the world — turned to the domestic market as the only source.
Saudis typically travel overseas for holiday, with the other Arab states and Europe as popular regions. But the kingdom's ban on all international travel to and from the country since early March to control the spread of Covid-19 makes overseas travel out of question. The government began reopening at the end of May, enabling locals to travel domestically,
