Saudi Arabia Eyes Dubai in Battle for Indian Tourists
Saudi Arabia is giving hot competition to Dubai for attracting tourists from India, with air travel bookings for travel to the Kingdom for the current April-May holiday season posting a whopping 75 per cent surge, latest industry data showed.
Saudi Authorities’ recent push to woo international tourists to the country by easing travel restrictions and simplifying visa procedures is driving the demand for travel to the country for tourism. The Kingdom’s added focus on religious tourism to Holy cities like Mecca and Medina is also adding to the surge in demand for travel to the country.
Saudi Arabia showcases a $550bn tourism plan after welcoming 93.5m visitors last year. Senior executives at travel services firms and OTAs have confirmed the trend of Saudi Arabia moving up significantly in popularity for travel and tourism from the Indian subcontinent. Industry insiders also said the relatively lower fares in Saudia are also aiding Riyadh to get a slice of transit travel from Indian passengers heading for several western and other international destinations.
Data showed a significant jump – over 50 per cent – in bookings for travel in the India- GCC sector for the April-May period, compared to the same period last year. A summer session break for schools and colleges, April-May is a busy holiday season in India for international travel.
The UAE continues to be the most popular region for travellers from India, with the data showing the Gulf country accounting for the majority of bookings in the Middle East. Dubai and Abu Dhabi are still the top destinations for travellers from this South Asian country. The data shows that the Middle East remains an attractive destination for travellers from India, with the UAE leading the way and Saudi Arabia showing significant growth potential.
