Abstract
Tourism is the main service industry significantly developing in the world. It is recognized as the critical factor in economic improvement in various countries. Saudi Arabia is one of the oldest and most famous spots for pilgrimage tourism due to its Islamic heritage. The study analyzes data available on the websites of the Saudi government to specify the contribution of travel and tourism revenue to the economy and its trend, occupancy of residential, and transportation capacity. A tourism satisfaction questionnaire was administered online to get the responses of Saudi nationals and residents related to tourism infrastructure, facilities, and other tourism services in Saudi Arabia. Ranks and percentage analysis were applied to get the relational satisfaction of tourists. Index numbers, ratios, percentages, and coefficient of variations were applied to get the trend, yearly fluctuations, variations, weights, and contribution of tourism avenues. There is a positive but low degree correlation between tourism revenue and the GDP of Saudi Arabia for the period from 2010 to 2018. The results indicate either negative or negligibly positive revenue growth of the accommodation/hotel services, food services, and air transportation. Two-thirds of tourists are either strongly satisfied or satisfied with essential and other tourism services and facilities in Saudi Arabia. Apart from tourist satisfaction, the Saudi government may consider a variety of services as per the economic level of the targeted tourists, and softening of visiting visa procedures and fees to enhance tourism revenue of major contributors for the positive and progressive development to the economy. AcknowledgmentThe authors would like to thank the Deanship of Scientific Research, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Alkharj, Saudi Arabia, for providing financial support to complete this project (Project No: 2020/02/16978).
Highlights
The oil and other petroleum prod- tality provided with a high level of quality of infraucts represent 53% of the Saudi GDP, which makes structure and services are significant for the satisthe Saudi economy exposed to the negative impact faction of tourists and Makkah and Medina visitors. of oil price fluctuations (Mahroum & Al-Saleh, Saudi Arabia aimed that tourism provides up to 2016)
Saudi government can take some steps to provide excellent residential, accommodation, and food services to boost the level of tourist satisfaction
To achieve the objective of the thriving economy of Saudi Vision 2030 and to attract more tourists, the government may focus on providing a variety of services as per the economic level of the targeted tourists, and soften visiting visa procedures and fees
Summary
Saudi Arabia is one of the oldest and most famous spots for pilgrimage tourism due to its Islamic heritage. Saudi Vision 2030 has focused on enhancing travel and tourism, which improves the Saudi economy expectedly. Tourism has been one of the fastest-growing sectors of the world economy and is generally known for its contribution to local and national levels of economic improvement. The growth and development of the tourism sector of Saudi Arabia will nourish the aims and objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 by diversifying the economy, generating employment, and spreading its culture and heritage in the world. The Saudi government launched the Saudi summer season program that considers the 10 tourism spots in the country (Ministry of Tourism of Saudi Arabia, 2020) to enhance the tourism revenue
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