Wednesday, 09 November 2011
The number of Saudi citizens choosing Dubai as a tourist destination increased by 45 percent this year. (File photo)
Salary increases are among the reasons that pushed Saudis to spend more.
Saudi citizens choosing Dubai as a tourist destination increased by 45 percent in comparison to the same period last year, mainly because of the political events unraveling in Syria, Egypt and Lebanon, formerly popular destinations, said bin Juma’a.
Asked if this spending was within the “normal” range, the economist said that income is the determining factor making individuals capable of such travels.
He said that the increased spending on tourism by Saudis did not mean that they got more value out of their travel, citing highly inflated air ticket prices among other expenditures.
“They spent more but got less in comparison to earlier years,” he said.
Dr. Abid al-Abdally, a professor of Islamic economics at Umm al-Qura University in the kingdom, said that the money spent by pilgrims on buying gifts and other memorabilia reached 3.6 billion riyals (approximately $1 billion).
Dr. Abdally said that most pilgrims buy gifts when they visit Saudi Arabia.
“Unfortunately, a big portion of the material [used to manufacture gifts] are imported from outside and are made for Saudi Arabia especially for religious events; this is despite calls to develop the sector locally, which would spur local investment, especially after polls surveying pilgrims suggesting that the pilgrims prefer local manufacturing."
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