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There was only a slight preference for domestic (59%) over international destinations
(41%) indicated by the 201 valid responses. Remember that these are choices by almost
entirely Saudi nationals - expatriate residents may be expected to vacation at home.
Question 5. Reasons for selecting international destinations.
All 82 respondents who had indicated in question 4 that they chose international
destinations, provided reasons for this choice. These were grouped into four categories:
‘shopping’; ‘climate’ (cooler); ‘prices’ (lower); and the catch-all ‘facilities and attractions’.
This last included expressed desires to see new cities and to experience other cultures, as
well as to seek greater variety or better quality entertainment, accommodation or services.
Over 60% of those holidaying outside Saudi Arabia did so for the facilities and
attractions (Figure Tourist why out).
Error! No topic specified.
Question 6. Preferred domestic holiday destinations.
One hundred and six of the 119 respondents who holiday within Saudi Arabia indicated
their preferred domestic destinations. I grouped these into six categories: ‘mountains’,
including the hill towns such as Taif, Al Baha and Abha, as well as destinations expressed
as Asir, or south-west; ‘coastal’, on either the Red Sea or Gulf; the ‘Holy cities’ of
Makkah and Medina; ‘desert’; ‘other’, e.g. Riyadh, Hijaz, Al Jouf; and ‘no preference’, i.e.
any city. In keeping with the peak holiday period in summer, the most popular domestic
holiday destinations were in the mountains; coastal sites and holy cities ranked second
and third, respectively (Figure Tourist where in).
Error! No topic specified.
Question 7. Means of travel to holiday destinations.
Overall, 55% of respondents travelled by private car; 44% flew, and the remainder went
by bus. However, there was a difference in means of transport with destination (Figure
Tourist travel to); 82% of domestic holiday-makers travelled by private car, whereas 82%
of international travellers used commercial flights. It should be remembered that an
international destination from Saudi Arabia could be elsewhere in the Middle East, such
as Jordan, or the United Arab Emirates, reflected by the 16% of international travellers
that travelled by private car.
Error! No topic specified.
Question 8. Means of travel during vacations.
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