The Unfenced Desert Towards a strategy for eco ... - Nwrc.gov.sa

makers (Question 2, above), then each year around SR36 billion (~U$9.6 billion) are
being spent by Saudis while on holiday outside the Kingdom.
Question 10. Preferred type of accommodation.
Of the 198 respondents to this question, the majority (62%) indicated a preference for
self-contained apartment or villa style accommodation; 23% opted for 4-5 star hotels, the
remainder used either tents (10%) or 2-3 star hotels (5%). There were some differences
in preferences with destination (Figure Tourist accom.) with 4-5 star hotels being
preferred by international travellers (38 vs 12%, respectively). This may reflect cost and
availability; self-contained accommodation suits the cultural preference of Saudis for
privacy, particularly for women family members. This type of accommodation is
therefore perhaps more widely available at affordable prices within domestic holiday
destinations in Saudi Arabia.
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Question 11. Favourite activities while on holiday.
Respondents were free to mark as many of the choices offered as they liked, percentages
presented in Figure (Tourist activity) are therefore calculated from a potential maximum
of 202, i.e. selected by everyone. Widely pursued activities were sight-seeing, shopping,
visiting friends, hunting, walking and picnicking. The prevalence of outdoor activities
suggests potential interest in protected area visits.
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Question 12. Recognition of the NCWCD.
An encouraging 180 out of 200 (90%) people indicated they had heard of the NCWCD;
80% (out of 103 who indicated where from) from the television, 45% from newspapers,
and only 11% from friends, despite the questionnaire having been distributed by
NCWCD staff. (Note: people may know the NCWCD from more than one source, so
percentages do not add up to 100). Seventy seven people out of the 180 that knew of the
NCWCD did not indicate where from, so the actual level of recognition could be as low
as 51% (103/202). Nevertheless, these figures suggest that the NCWCD has done a good
job of establishing a reasonable public profile.
Question 13. Recognition of NCWCD protected areas.
Fewer people indicated they knew of any NCWCD protected areas (61%; 123/202), and
fewer still could name any (47%; 96/202 - including accurate names and reasonable
synonyms). This is a little unusual given the high level of recognition of the NCWCD
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