{"id":5357,"date":"2015-07-20T09:41:04","date_gmt":"2015-07-20T08:41:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/english.thesunrisetoday.com\/?p=5357"},"modified":"2015-07-20T09:42:31","modified_gmt":"2015-07-20T08:42:31","slug":"50-of-saudi-tourists-in-europe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/english.thesunrisetoday.com\/index.php\/50-of-saudi-tourists-in-europe\/","title":{"rendered":"50% of Saudi tourists in Europe"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Saudi<\/a>The decline of the euro and the British pound has seen an increase in the number of Saudi tourists heading to Europe, according to experts, Al-Hayat reported.
\nNearly 50 percent of tourists preferred Europe as a destination this year.
\nCouncil of Saudi Chambers of Commerce National Committee for Travel and Tourism Head Nasir Al-Tayyar said all flight tickets from the Kingdom to Europe were fully booked by the end of Ramadan.
\n\u201cSaudis generally head towards East Asia but this year Europe has become the most popular destination. Previous popular countries and cities for Saudi tourists such as Dubai, Turkey, Malaysia and others have become very expensive and hot during the summer,\u201d said Al-Tayyar.
\nHe said Ramadan this year arrived at the middle of the summer vacation. \u201cMany Saudis were able to travel before, after or during Ramadan and most of them headed to Europe. The weather in Europe is inviting and many airlines have offers and discounts for trips from the Kingdom to Europe,\u201d said Al-Tayyar.
\nBadr Bin Mohammad, manager in a travel agency, said most Saudis prefer, during the summer vacation, colder regions as the weather becomes scorching in Saudi Arabia.
\n\u201cEurope, Malaysia, Dubai and Turkey are very popular destinations for Saudi tourists. Saudis traveling during the summer vacation this year is much higher when compared to the same time last year. The tourism industry in the Kingdom has had a good year, especially outbound tourists,\u201d said Bin Mahmoud.
\nA Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) source said there was an increase in the total amount of money spent on international flights by Saudis.
\n\u201cThe total amount of money spent on international flights by Saudis has increased by 32.7 percent in 2014 in comparison to 2013. In 2014, the total amount of money spent on departing flights was SR29.6 billion. In 2013, the total amount of money spent on departing flights was SR22.3 billion,\u201d said the source.
\nThe source also said in 2013 most Saudis traveled to other Gulf countries such as Dubai, Bahrain and Qatar.
\n\u201cIn 2013, 51 percent of Saudi tourists traveled to Dubai, Bahrain and Qatar. About 29.6 percent traveled to other countries in the Middle East, while 9.2 percent traveled to South Asia and 10.2 percent traveled to Europe and America,\u201d said the source.
\nThe source added there was an increase in the total amount of money spent on national flights by Saudis.
\n\u201cThe total amount of money spent on international flights by Saudis has increased by 24 percent in 2014 in comparison to 2013. In 2014, the total amount of money spent on local flights was SR6.2 billion. In 2013, the total amount of money spent on local flights was SR5 billion,\u201d said the source.<\/p>\n

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