SAUDI tourists are reportedly expected to spend a whopping SR22 million on air tickets for travel abroad this summer. Approximately four million Saudi tourists are set to leave for destinations like Egypt, Italy, France, Turkey and Malaysia, Asharq Al-Awsat Arabic daily reported, citing a senior official of a travel and tourism group. Malaysia is the favored destination this summer, most travel agents contacted by Saudi Gazette said. Tourism analysts have expressed their dismay at the large number of Saudis embarking on foreign tours even though many regions in the Kingdom are organizing tourism festivals during the summer holidays. “Enjoy the summer vacation in Saudi Arabia” is the motto of the General Commission for Tourism and Antiquities, which is trying to promote domestic tourism. __
