Saudi Arabia has launched its 2024 summer program to entice tourists and families to spend their holidays in the Gulf country.
Running from June to September and across seven destinations like Aseer, Al Baha, Taif, the Red Sea, Jeddah, Riyadh and AlUla, the "Saudi Summer is Next Door" program offers over 150 packages designed for families and children interested in adventure, luxury retreats, and culture and heritage activities. In addition to this, the country will also host some of the biggest sporting events in the world like the inaugural Esports World Cup in Riyadh (July 4-August 24), and multiple boxing tournaments to be held in both Riyadh and Jeddah.
In a speech given at the launch of the summer program, Ahmed Al Khateeb, the minister for tourism and the chairman of the board of directors at the Saudi Tourism Authority, highlighted the growth of the country's tourism sector, and the record-breaking number of tourists to the Gulf nation.
“Saudi Arabia is witnessing a transformative period in tourism, driven by our vision to position the Kingdom as a premier global destination. The Saudi Summer Program 2024 is our commitment to showcasing the rich cultural heritage, natural beauty and unparalleled hospitality that Saudi Arabia offers. We invite local and international tourists to experience the diversity of our seven unique destinations and take advantage of the exceptional offers and packages designed to create unforgettable memories,” he said.
The Saudi Tourism Authority noted that travelling to the Kingdom has become easier, smoother and safer due to efforts like making electronic visas available to citizens of 66 countries, reducing the total price of the eVisa by 20 per cent and increasing the number of weekly flights from Gulf cities to Saudi Arabian summer destinations to 1,100. There has also been an increase in the number of hotel rooms available to travellers, with an additional 25,000 rooms expected to be added this year.
If the burning heat during the summer months is making you think twice of visiting the country, Fahd Hamidaddin, the CEO and board member of the Saudi Tourism Authority, has this travel tip for you: “While temperatures in the region rise to high levels during summer, temperatures in the highlands of Saudi Arabia in the southern region decrease to the extent that we even witnessed snowfall in Al Soudah [recently]."