Aviation News International – Saudi Arabia has concluded a successful Hajj season, an annual event that, along with year-round Umrah pilgrimages, makes the kingdom an estimated $12bn.
So far, religious pilgrimages and going there for work are the main reasons people think of when travelling to Saudi Arabia is mentioned.
Even for those trips, visas were hard to get, and the kingdom did not have a reputation as a tourist destination. Saudi Arabia has been known instead for being a deeply conservative country that has been criticised on human rights grounds.
But as travel continues to pick up in a post-pandemic world, the kingdom is working to increase its income from tourism as well as transporting people and goods.
To do that, it is showcasing a more relaxed side to the world, promoting its tourist destinations, and simplifying entry requirements.
It is also planning to replace one of its busiest airports, the capital Riyadh’s King Khalid Airport, with the massive King Salman International.
