Saudi Gazette A recent survey conducted by Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) revealed that the commission organized 15 different festivals over the summer and generated a revenue of SR5 billion. Summer festivals held in various cities of the Kingdom attracted 9.3 million visitors and 3.3 million of them were tourists who travelled from outside the Kingdom to join in the summer fun. The fun packed summer festivals had plenty to offer to the hundreds of thousands of people who flocked into the enormous air-conditioned tents, halls, shopping centers, beaches, and open fields across the Kingdom. There were a variety of bazaars for tourists, including ethnic cuisines and a taste of traditional Saudi foods. For entertainment, a variety of plays and Saudi folklore was organized for tourists, in addition to a wide range of interesting shows such as ice skating, roller-blading, fireworks, gymnastics, clown shows, and much more. The survey also showed that a whopping 40 percent of SR5 billion tourism revenue came from shopping. Consumerism and shopping is a deeply engraved summer habit in all countries, and Saudi Arabia is no exception. As for the type of accommodation, the survey found that the largest portion of tourists in the large cities preferred to stay in furnished apartments over hotels, since they are a cheaper option. All tourists in the major cities unanimously complained of high accommodation costs. Collecting information was not the only purpose for this survey. SCTA also welcomed tourists' suggestions and feedback in order to improve the summer festivities in the coming years. The tourists who participated in the survey expressed that they would like to see greenery planted in the areas around the festivals, increased availability of car parking spaces, better lighting at night, and more playgrounds for the young ones. Tourists also urged the SCTA to exercise more control in reducing prices and tourism expenses, to enforce stricter cleanliness policies, and to include more attractions specifically for female visitors in separately designated areas. __
