Saudi Tourism Authority’s new campaign “Saudi Summer is Next Door” aims to promote the destination’s diverse offerings during the summer travel season, set to run for four months until the end of September across seven destinations.

The Saudi Tourism Authority has launched the “Saudi Summer is Next Door,” summer programme for 2024.

In a press statement, STA says that Saudi’s summer programme will run for four months until the end of September across seven destinations and includes over 550 tourism products with more than 150 special offers for families and children across different segments like adventure lovers, those looking for luxury retreats and activities and culture and heritage enthusiasts.

Organised by the STA and launched by Ahmed Al Khateeb, Minister of Tourism and Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Saudi Summer Programme 2024 launch event was attended by Secretary-General of World Tourism Organisation, Zurab Pololikashvili, with over 250 key strategic partners.

The statement adds that the summer programme is launched across Aseer, Al Baha, Taif, the Red Sea, Jeddah, Riyadh and AlUa.

“Saudi Arabia is witnessing a transformative period in tourism, driven by our vision to position the Kingdom as a premier global destination. The Saudi Summer Programme 2024 is our commitment to showcasing the rich cultural heritage, natural beauty, and unparalleled hospitality that Saudi Arabia offers,” says Ahmed Al Khateeb.

“We invite local and international tourists to experience the diversity of our seven unique destinations and take advantage of the exceptional offers and packages designed to create unforgettable memories. This initiative, supported by our strategic partnerships and groundbreaking initiatives like the eVisa and increased flight connectivity, demonstrates our dedication to making Saudi Arabia more accessible and appealing to tourists worldwide. We look forward to welcoming visitors from all corners of the globe to explore and enjoy the vibrant experiences that await them this summer,” Khateeb adds.

“Saudi tourism is witnessing unparalleled development at all levels, achieving great leaps in recent years, which I witnessed during my multiple visits to this hospitable country. Saudi Arabia has global indicators related to the number of tourists, which has qualified it to top the UN World Tourism list of significant tourist destinations,” says Zurab Pololikashvili, Secretary-General of the UN Tourism.

“All of these great achievements for Saudi tourism would not have been achieved without proper planning from those in charge of the sector in the Kingdom and the great potential it possesses in terms of diverse climates, stunning natural landmarks and the generosity of Saudi people who are distinguished by their hospitality, raising the ceiling of ambitions for new achievements,” adds Pololikashvili.

“While temperatures in the region rise to high levels during summer, temperatures in the highlands of Saudi Arabia in the southern region decrease to the extent that we even witnessed snowfall in Al Soudah yesterday. Through the promotional campaign for the Saudi Summer Programme 2024, we seek to highlight the uniqueness of our destinations and their climatic, natural, and cultural diversity, along with the exceptional events and activities happening during summer,” says Fahd Hamidaddin, CEO and Board Member of the Saudi Tourism Authority.

“This year’s summer programme includes more than 550 tourism products and 150 special offers designed in collaboration with STA’s partners which include attractive offers from hotels and airlines offering free tickets for children in partnership with major travel, tourism and aviation companies and exceptional products in the Aseer Season and Jeddah Season like tax-free shopping offers and many new and exciting experiences such as private beaches for tourists and ladies’ beaches,” he adds.

STA says that the private sector is a key partner in the success of tourism programmes and initiatives and the Saudi Tourism Authority is keen to empower it by encouraging demand for products and offers that meet the aspirations of tourists from all over the world.

The statement adds that the launch of the Saudi Summer Programme 2024 comes at a time when visiting Saudi has become easier, smoother and safer through efforts like making the eVisa available to citizens of 66 countries, reducing the total price of the eVisa by 20 pc, and increasing the number of weekly flights from Gulf cities to Saudi summer destinations to 1,100.