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This summer saw a 16.4% y-o-y increase in international flight bookings from the Kingdom, and a 16.6% rise in domestic flights, buoyed by the Eid Al Adha holiday coinciding with the start of summer break. according to a press release from travel app Wego. Bookings this season surpassed those during Ramadan and Eid Al Fitr by 23.2%, Wego Chief Business Officer Mamoun Hmidan said.
Egypt accounted for nearly half of all bookings from Saudi on Wego between June and August, due to its proximity to Saudi, frequency of daily flights, convenient visa options, and the large Egyptian expat community in the Kingdom. India, the UAE, Turkey, and Pakistan were also among the most popular destinations for Saudi national and expat holiday goers booking on Wego.
Last-minute travel plans: Most Saudi travelers booked their trips within two weeks of their departure, indicating a growing trend of spontaneous travel planning, particularly to Egypt. Meanwhile, there was a notable uptick in the use of travel apps and online booking platforms in the Saudi travel market during this summer season, Hmidan added.
Summer spending sprees: Saudi travelers spent an average of SAR 1.7k (USD 466) per person on flights and hotel stays in June and July, marking the highest spending for the Saudi travel market so far this year.
Travelers tended to prefer luxury accommodation, with 41% of international bookings made at 5-star hotels and 35% at 4-star hotels. Other alternative accommodations included resorts and aparthotels.
