Almosafer report reveals domestic...

Abha, Al Jubail and Jizan among rising holiday hotspots

Data from Almosafer, Saudi’s leading travel company, shows a rise in domestic travel within the kingdom, inspired by demand for new experiences.

Domestic trips rose 44% in 2024, contributing more than 40% to overall travel bookings in Saudi, according to Almosafer’s latest report.

This surge was fuelled by family and group bookings, which grew 70% with groups increasingly choosing to visit cities or regions that offer event-based and experience-rich opportunities.

Among the activities on offer, guided tours, adventure sports, cultural experiences and Ramadan pursuits have proven to be most attractive to travellers.

In-kingdom destinations growing in popularity include Abha, the capital of the Aseer region in southwest Saudi. Home to green mountains and a cool climate, the city and wider region is being positioned as an all-year-round destination. The area is known for its national park, filled with juniper forests, a cable car ride to the Green Mountain and an array of museums. Connecting Travel's Editorial Director Sarah Hedley Hymers was invited by international TV channel Euronews to showcase the destination.

Among other places rapidly gaining traction, Al Jubail on the shores of the Arabian Gulf offers white-sand beaches; Tabuk in the north is known for its archaeological wonders; Hail for its desert terrain and ancient rock art, and Jizan on the southern tip of the Red Sea coast is good for diving.

These rising hotspots reflect the kingdom’s continued investment in tourism infrastructure, as it looks to attract 150 million visits by 2030, with 30 million of them domestic.

When it comes to accommodation, luxury continues to dominate among domestic travellers with 36% of room nights booked in five-star venues. But budget-friendly (three-star and below properties) and alternative accommodations in trending destinations, such as AiUla and Khamis Mushait, are gaining traction as they become more widely available.

The report also highlights a preference for booking travel on mobile platforms, with app bookings surging 67% in the last year and a significant shift towards Buy-Now-Pay-Later payment schemes, with transactions skyrocketing by 940%.

Muzzammil Ahussain, CEO of Almosafer, said: “The growth of domestic tourism and the rise of family and group trips, with a focus on unique accommodation experiences and rich in-destination activities, showcases the success of the national agenda of building a thriving leisure tourism sector that contributes significantly to the economy.”

For more information, visit ae.almosafer.com/en

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