Travel in Saudi Arabia

Saudis are exploring their own country in bigger numbers and foreigners are bringing the cash. That’s the takeaway from a report by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on the state of the Saudi economy.

Saudi Arabia is setting its sights on the Chinese outbound tourism market as part of its strategy to transform the kingdom into a global tourism hub. With 1.4 billion people, China offers a significant source of potential travelers, especially as the number of Chinese tourists flying internationally recovers post-pandemic. 

In the hypergrowth world of the modern Gulf, Oman stands in stark contrast to its neighbors. Dubai in the UAE and Riyadh in Saudi buzz with frenetic energy, driven by an influx of expats and new graduates from Africa and India. But Oman moves to a different rhythm — one of calm deliberation and cultural preservation.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman will be in Brussels on Wednesday for the first EU–Gulf Cooperation Summit, Euronews can reveal.

The 1,800-kilometer Saudi Red Sea coast is split into three areas by authorities: the north side for luxury; the center for culture and entertainment at a variety of prices; and the south for mid-market and budget choices.

Riyadh Air CEO Tony Douglas is confident that the startup — which is positioning itself as Saudi Arabia's elite answer to the big Gulf carriers — will take to the skies next year.

From mammoth aircraft orders to innovations in passenger experience, the Middle East is playing a key role in reshaping the global aviation landscape. So when airline leaders from the region speak out, it’s usually worth paying attention.

In a year marked by regional instability and war, Saudi Arabia’s inbound arrivals have continued to grow.

Airbus is about to kick-start a new era of long-haul travel.

In this episode of the Skift India Travel Podcast, Asia Editor Peden Doma Bhutia is joined by Saniya Zanpure, research analyst at Skift, to explore India’s inbound tourism landscape. Last month, the Indian government announced initiatives aimed at boosting tourism, including offering 100,000 free visas. Despite surging outbound travel, inbound recovery has been slower, making these measures critical. Catch them discuss factors behind this disparity, such as safety concerns, visa issues, and infrastructure challenges, as well as untapped opportunities to enhance India’s appeal.    

Domestic tourism is relatively new amongst Gulf countries whereby they look to increase the spending of residents in a country by prompting them to visit facilities designed for tourism.

Good morning from Skift. It’s Thursday, October 3, 2024 and here’s what you need to know about the business of travel today. 

Delta Air Lines announced Wednesday that it signed a codeshare with Saudia Airlines, Saudi Arabia’s national flag carrier. 

Low-cost carrier Wizz Air is banking that price-sensitive customers will book its new no-frills narrowbody planes to save money on long-haul flights — and it's not being shy about the cabin.

Air Astana is launching one of the world's longest narrowbody routes with the aim of increasing comfort for passengers.

In Georgia, where history is a roll call of conflicts, hello (‘Gamarjoba’) translates as ‘be victorious’. 

Sep 27, 2024 • 3 min read

Will Saudi Arabia’s Diriyah Gate be finished on schedule by 2030? Does it have the right mix of luxury and affordable hotels? Will tourists come year-round? 

Aman is well known for its ultraluxury resorts and hotels found in some of the world's favorite cities, like Tokyo and Venice, Italy, as well as destinations as close as Utah and as far as Phuket, Thailand.

Goa is not ready to lose out on the destination wedding business, especially this close to the upcoming wedding season. The state has rolled back its decision to increase the fees to hold private events, including weddings.  

Staying overnight in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of AlUla has been possible for some years. Since Saudi Arabia opened its borders to tourism a few years ago, the region has welcomed guests with immersive luxury desert stays at sustainable resorts like Banyan Tree and Habitas AlUla and glamping at Ashar Tented Resort. And now it’s possible to stay in AlUla’s Old Town.

Sober travelers who wish to take to the seas find it nearly impossible to book an alcohol-free cruises. Major cruise lines focus heavily on alcohol consumption, trying hard to sell expensive drinks package to cruisers. In return, cruisers who paid big bucks for their drinks package tend to indulge a lot more than usual in an attempt to get their money’s worth, creating an atmosphere that’s very unhealthy for those who want to avoid booze altogether.