Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities releases tourism statistics

In a statistical report released recently by SCTA on the direct jobs in tourism sector, it revealed that the total of jobs created reached nearly 491,768 in 2010 compared with 478,979 in 2009 with 2.7

In a statistical report released recently by SCTA on the direct jobs in tourism sector, it revealed that the total of jobs created reached nearly 491,768 in 2010 compared with 478,979 in 2009 with 2.7% increase. Jobs occupied by Saudis in the tourism sector reached 128,027 in 2010, rated 26% compared with 123,098 rating 25.7% in 2009.

The report, which was issued by MAS, the statistical arm of SCTA, referred to the most important tourist indicators in 2010. It stated that the number of domestic tourism trips for the year 2010 has reached around 22.780 million, in which tourists spent more than 31.324 billion Saudi riyals (US$8.353 billion).

In 2010, the average of daily expenditure per tourist reached SR 268, compared with SR 168 in 2009 (with a rise of 59.1%), while the average of residence reached 5.1 nights in 2010 compared with 6.2 nights in 2009.

On tourism festivals, the report stated that the number of festivals reached 32 during 2010 with a total number of visitors reaching 9.895 million, who have spent SR 7.712 billion with an average of daily expenditure per visitor reaching SR 305 compared with 27 festivals in 2009 with an average of daily expenditure per visitor reaching SR 268.

In addition, hotel room occupancy rates in the kingdom increased to 59.2%, and hotel beds 52.5% during 2010 compared with 54.6% for rooms and 50.4% for beds in 2009. Furnished flats occupancy rates also increased to 54.2% for flats and 44.2% for beds in 2010 compared with 49.8% for flats and 43.4% for beds in 2009.

According to the report, the share of the tourism sector in GDP estimated about 3.6% in 2010. The tourism sector in GDP compared with non-crude products rated 7.5%, while it rated 12% compared with gross production of the Saudi private sector.

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Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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