Okaz/Saudi Gazette

YANBU — Although travel agencies have been coaxing tourists with attractive offers, the volume of foreign travel during the mid-year school break has declined, compared to previous years.

Despite packages costing as low as SR2,300, including air tickers, for stays of up to seven days in five-star hotels in Turkey, Egypt and Dubai, the demand was low as a result of the growth in domestic tourism options, according to travel operators.

They, meanwhile, pointed to an increase in bookings for flights to Al-Ula and Yanbu.

Chairman of the Tourism Committee in the Madinah Chamber Majd Al-Mohammadi told Okaz/Saudi Gazette that there was growth in the volume of domestic tourism despite the higher prices of accommodation, compared to the attractive prices abroad.

He said, "The internal tourism bill is very high, with the prices of rooms in central areas of Yanbu ranging from SR1,000 to SR1,200 during the mid-term vacation, while the travel agencies offered attractive packages at SR2,300, including tickets and accommodation in 5-star hotels for 7 nights per person in Turkey, Egypt and Dubai."

Abdul-Ella Al-Mehdar, owner of a tourism and travel agency, confirmed that there was a decline in demand for foreign tourism compared to last year when it reached 37 percent of the bookings in most tourist agencies.

He said, "There is growth in demand for domestic flights, especially to Al-Ula and Yanbu, and the prices of hotels in Al-Ula ranged from SR150 to SR600. In Yanbu it was between SR250 and SR1,090, and in Tabuk between SR300 and SR750.