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

(Question 11). Overnight visits were the least popular, rated ‘low’ or ‘no interest’ by
~58%.
Question 16. Hypothetical preferred facilities for visitors to wildlife protected
areas.
Respondents were asked to answer yes or no as to whether they would like to have any
or all of up to 11 listed facilities within a wildlife protected area. In order of decreasing
preference the facilities are: campsites (not necessarily overnight); toilets; guides;
children’s playground; restaurant; wildlife displays; driving trails; snack shop; picnic areas;
walking trails; hotel or villa accommodation (Table xxx).
Table. Preferred facilities for tourist visitors to wildlife protected areas; figures are
percentage of respondents selecting each facility, and are calculated from the
total numbers (sample size) providing a valid response. Facilities are listed in
decreasing order of preference, with those above the dotted line being selected by
at least half the people.
Facility Selected by (%) Sample size
Campsite 73 199
Toilet 65 198
Guides 63 199
Children’s playground 50 199
Restaurant 49 198
Wildlife displays 47 199
Driving trails 41 199
Snack shop 32 199
Picnic areas 30 199
Walking trails 27 199
Hotel or villa accommodation 21 56*
* Not all questionnaire forms offered ‘hotel or villa’ accommodation as an option.
Summary
Although large numbers of Saudis choose to holiday overseas, there is evidence that
leisure tourism away from the home is growing within Saudi Arabia. Saudi tourists have
access to and are willing to spend significant amounts of money during their holidays.
Domestic tourism is concentrated but not restricted to the summer months,
consequently mountain and coastal destinations are preferred. At these sites Saudi
tourists expect to find good quality hotel and especially self-contained apartment style
60