Above: Saudis are choosing one big reason to travel, and an African safari is one of them
LUXURY, ONE NIGHT AT A TIME Why book an entirely five-star holiday when one perfectly timed splurge can deliver the feeling? Marriott Bonvoy calls it “lux-scaping”, adding a luxury hotel, spa or premium stay at the start or end of a wider trip. It has already become familiar behaviour. Some 80% of Saudi respondents had tried it, 35% had done so during the previous year and 30% said it gave them access to luxury they could not justify for a longer stay. It is indulgence with a calculator close at hand. BEAUTY IN THE BAG The souvenir list is getting more sophisticated. Skyscanner found that 51% of Saudis had bought beauty or skincare products abroad, while 41% were considering beauty shopping or treatments on a future trip. Price is part of the draw, but discovery matters too. Pharmacies, beauty stores, hammams, fragrance houses and local skincare rituals are becoming travel experiences in their own right. The holiday glow may now arrive in the hand luggage, if the bag is big enough!
THE SUPERMARKET SOUVENIR Museums reveal a country’s history.
“79% of Saudis have taken a holiday to follow a passion”
Supermarkets reveal what everyone is having for dinner. Some 83% of Saudi travellers visit local grocery stores and markets during a trip, while 43% look for snacks and foods unavailable at home. It is easy, inexpensive cultural immersion, with the added thrill of finding a limited-edition flavour, unusual ingredient or suitcase-worthy treat. For destinations, even the everyday can become part of the visitor experience. Clear product labelling, halal information and good local food storytelling can turn the weekly shop into a holiday highlight. PASSION PICKS THE PLACE A fixture, concert, trek or cultural event can now choose the destination before the traveller does. Marriott found that 79% of Saudi respondents had taken a holiday primarily to follow a passion. Sports, music and culture sit alongside safaris and adventure trips, opening the door to itineraries built around a single big reason to go. The strongest travel products then extend that passion across the stay, pairing the main event with relevant food, neighbourhoods, hotels and experiences.
66 | SPOTLIGHT RIYADH
Made with FlippingBook Digital Proposal Creator