Saudi Arabia experiencing surge in religious tourism

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The Kingdom’s hotel sector is witnessing a remarkable growth due to significant surge in religious tourism, which according to recent reports has achieved an astonishing 30 percent growth in the first quarter of 2009 alone.Saudi Arabia is expected to generate a total of SR13 billion during the current Umrah season, a key figure that will help strengthen the Kingdom’s status as one of the top tourist destinations and a leading hotel market in the Middle East.

Elaf Group has particularly prepared for the new Umrah season that started in February 2009, noting a considerable growth trend of around 3.5 million pilgrims are expected to visit the Kingdom in the current Umrah season.Religious tourism in the Kingdom generates around $7 billion annually, according to recent reports, while the government has allocated a total of $38 billion in tourism infrastructure and transport systems, including a high-speed railway system that will link Jeddah, Makkah and Madina – three key travel destinations in the Kingdom.

The tourism sector generates billions of dollars in revenue and provides jobs for more than 342,000 people in areas related to hotels, resorts, furnished apartments, cafes, travel agencies, transportation and entertainment. Earlier reports also said that religious tourism accounts for some two-thirds of all earnings in the international tourism sector and one-third of domestic tourism revenue. It also helps to make Saudi Arabia the top destination in the Middle East in terms of international tourist arrivals.