Saudi nationals confident to travel again

 

In a boost to the domestic leisure travel market, 35 per cent of Saudi’s are keen on discovering the growing cultural, adventure and entertainment offering in their home country, as they chose a staycation in the kingdom as a preferred travel option post Covid-19. Makkah and Jeddah were identified as the top destinations for domestic travel, with other metropolitan cities amongst the top choices (Riyadh, Dammam) and more experiential destinations such as AlUla, Taif and Abha of rising interest. The results in terms of domestic travel are consistent with searches across Almosafer app and web channels, as compared to the previous month, an 83 per cent increase in domestic searches was recorded from May 1 till date.

 

Domestic travel was only topped slightly by the wider GCC, with 38 per cent of Saudis indicating their first venture out of Saudi Arabia will be to its neighboring countries. As for destinations further afield, 38 per cent also chose Asia for a potential first trip post pandemic. Travelling with family was preferred by 50 per cent of Saudi nationals, followed by 29 per cent who said they would go in smaller groups of friends in keeping with the social distancing mindset.

 

In terms of mode of transport, Saudis preference was journeys by car (48 per cent) or short haul flights (40 per cent), with religious tourism of the highest priority in terms of travel purpose (42 per cent). Given the closure of Makkah during Ramadan, once the city opens, bookings are expected to rise quickly amongst the domestic market.

 

About 58 per cent of Saudi travellers would opt for trips shorter than seven days. But overall, there is also a large appetite for trips that exceed the duration of a weekend getaway with 42 per cent planning to go for longer than a week.

 

The majority of Saudi travellers questioned mentioned social distancing and PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) rules applicable in-destination would be crucial information necessary before making a travel decision (60 per cent).

 

Clarity on safety measures taken by airlines and hotels is also considered critical for 55 per cent of travellers to help build confidence.

 

Travel advice through online and offline channels will furthermore play a significant role in the new normal, as Saudis seek reassurance on their choices (36 per cent), to help fully restore travel confidence.

 

Muzzammil Ahussain, Executive Vice President at Almosafer, said: “In the first dedicated study of Saudi sentiment in relation to post pandemic travel, it is encouraging to see that passion for travel in the kingdom remains resilient. The interest in domestic leisure travel also provides a real opportunity to accelerate the development of tourism in the Kingdom and focus on the growing cultural, adventure and entertainment offerings waiting to be explored.

 

We have already taken the initiative to invest into the creation of a holistic domestic offering for our flagship consumer brand Almosafer. This will include packages and travel options for all major destinations within the Kingdom, as well as those that are lesser known but full of exciting things to explore. We look forward to enabling Saudis to fully discover their own country and its vast touristic opportunities.”

 

Fahad Alobailan, Vice President of Retail at Almosafer, added: “We have an important role to play to help restore confidence and address industry challenges. As an omni-channel brand, our focus is on providing Saudi travellers with the personalised advice and support they need at every touchpoint, to help them make informed travel decisions and feel confident wherever they are in the world."

 

"Travel advisory for us means keeping up to date with information and curating qualitative and quantitative content that will help our customers not only choose the destination for their next trip, but also give them an idea of what exactly to expect before they travel. Our customer support system offers valuable, in-depth information and guidance on safety regulations and restrictions in place from travel providers as well as in-destination insights. Information will be made available online and via our travel advisors who are being trained to become experts on post-pandemic recommendations.”

 

The survey amongst Saudi nationals was conducted online from May 14 - May 20, with respondents from all across the country. - TradeArabia News Service