JEDDAH: A local economist believes that there will be a boost in local tourism during this year's holidays because of the political events in various Arab countries. However, Mustafa Tumairak believes that services should be improved locally to ensure sustainable growth. Tumairak said many services are not available domestically, such as flight and hotel accommodation, facilities, reasonable prices and outstanding service. Other complementary services, like cleanliness, developed tourist sites, proper roads, easy traffic movement, special places for youth activities, and restaurants with proper service. He said Jeddah visitors have faced several problems including high tariffs for hotels, furnished apartments and resorts, in addition to traffic congestion that makes transportation difficult for its residents. Authorities must work faster to complete the city's infrastructure and modern road network, he said. Tourism revenues Tumairak said the unstable geopolitical situation in the region will see domestic tourism thrive during this spring break. Based on 2010 summer holiday statistics, Saudis may spend about $3 billion during this spring break, Tumairak said. About 70 percent of the 4.5 million people who spent their holidays abroad in the summer of 2010, went to Arab countries where many of them own houses. “These days, considering the region's circumstances, we estimate that about 500,000 people would travel abroad this holiday, which leaves an estimated four million people spending the holiday in the country.” In 2010, Saudi travelers to Arab countries and US, Europe and Malaysia spent a total of $33 billion in about 90 days, that is $80 per individual. And people who stayed in the country during this spring break are estimated to spend about $3 billion, he said. Waleed Shaikhon, a hotel expert, said occupation rates at five-star hotels in Jeddah is 100 percent this spring break. Other class hotels and furnished apartments were 95 percent occupied. Shaikhon said travel agencies are not carrying out domestic tourist programs and promoting tourist attractions.
