Hopefully this demand from travelers will encourage more tourism businesses to adopt sustainable practices as it now makes business sense for them to do so.
A partnership with Trip.com could help Saudi Arabia make inroads into the China market. Saudi hopes to draw 3.9 million Chinese visitors per year by 2030.
The aviation industry in the Middle East has greatly benefited from its strategically important geographical location, that enables airlines to establish easy connections to continents across the globe.
As countries in the Middle East set ambitious tourism targets for the future, Saudi Arabia is investing in infrastructure to drive numbers, while Dubai is investing in technology to adopt "Smart Gates" at Dubai airport and looking to make air taxis a reality.
By allowing locals for the first time to rent out properties to tourists, Saudi Arabia is not just trying to keep pace with growing demand, but is also trying to make the destination more accessible. Over to the locals.