Secretary General of Arab Tourism Experts Association Khalid Rashid has defended Saudi citizens for spending holidays abroad instead of in the Kingdom.

“It’s unfortunate that we question Saudi citizens’ preference to spend holidays overseas instead of in the Kingdom,” he told online publication Sabq.

He said that local tourism should adopt strategies aimed at achieving the requirements of Saudi families and the interest of the youth who represent about 70 percent of Saudi society.

“There should be a variety of tour packages at discounted prices to face external competition, to preserve Saudi tourists and achieve their wishes and aspirations in their own environment,” he said.

He said that Saudis are known for their patriotism but there are reasons why they spend their vacations abroad. “They don’t find happiness in spending holidays in the Kingdom despite boost in local tourism. There are restrictions.”

He said these include ineligibility for domestic travel, poor road conditions and networks that makes traveling and going home difficult, lack of public transportation facilities, among others.

“Prices in hotel rooms as well as in bed and breakfast have also become high. Worst, there’s also much to be desired in cleanliness and tourist services,” he said.

He also noted that the events being showcased in tourism festivals are not as attractive as envisioned by the authorities because of random preparations.

Rashid said it’s a known fact that tourism is an important industry and a development pillar of the state in general and society in particular .

“It’s also a locomotive of development which has direct and indirect contribution to all sectors. It’s unfortunate though that we’re lagging behind other destinations and competing with them is difficult,” he said.