Saudi Arabia Witnesses 20% Surge in Domestic Travel

Domestic travel in Saudi Arabia has seen a remarkable rise, with Wego reporting over a 20 percent year-on-year increase in domestic flight bookings during Eid Al-Fitr.

The travel app and online marketplace, Wego, noted over three million searches for Riyadh – a trend that reflects a growing preference for local travel among Saudi residents. Jeddah, Riyadh, and Dammam emerged as the top three destinations, drawing significant crowds for their special Eid events and festivities.

Other cities such as Abha, Medina, Jizan, Tabuk, Taif, Al Qassim, and Najran also saw increased activity, highlighting a mix of leisure and homecoming trips. Solo travelers led the surge, followed by couples and families, with most bookings made just two to seven days before travel, indicating a trend towards spontaneous travel planning.

This surge in domestic travel is consistent across other holidays like New Year and Founding Day, with spikes up to 56.69 percent month-on-month. The Saudi Ministry of Tourism's earlier announcement of 100 million visitors in a year, predominantly domestic travelers, underscores this trend.

Wego anticipates continued growth in domestic travel, bolstered by Saudi Arabia's ongoing commitment to enhancing its tourism sector through mega projects, international events, and improved infrastructure.