Saudi tourism cruises into the future
In July this year, I was fortunate enough to have been given the opportunity to explore some of Saudi Arabia’s most breathtaking destinations —Taif, Al-Baha, Abha and Jazan– during a four-day tour of the Kingdom organized by the Saudi Tourism Authority for its Saudi Summer campaign.
The success of the Saudi Summer campaign is indisputable. It opened up the Kingdom for people like me to see and experience its stunning beauty, diverse cultures and rich heritage, and allowed tourists to relax, take a breath and break free from their daily routines.
The campaign was also hugely beneficial for the Saudi economy, which, despite the impact of the pandemic, saw a 31 percent increase in domestic tourism between July and September — the duration of the Saudi Summer campaign — compared with the same period in 2019.
Although this year’s Saudi Summer campaign has officially ended, tourism continues to boom within Saudi Arabia. On Aug. 27 Saudi Arabia became the first country in the Middle East to restart cruise ship holidays. The Red Sea Spirit is one such cruise
The success of the Saudi Summer campaign is indisputable, opening up the Kingdom for people like me to see and experience its stunning beauty, diverse cultures
and rich heritage.
and I have just returned from this all-inclusive four-night luxury experience.
The cruise sails from the King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC) in Jeddah to Ras Al-Abyadh and Sindalah Island, two stunning locations on Saudi Arabia’s Red
Sea coast. On board this floating palace, I enjoyed a lavish serviced suite and a choice of eight restaurants serving exquisite food, not to mention an extensive range of recreational activities and live entertainment that suited all tastes. We left the port at KAEC late in the afternoon and sailed through the night to Ras Al-Abyadh, which, as its name suggests, has spectacular white sand beaches and crystal-clear blue waters. The beach offers an extensive variety of water sports activities, including diving, jet skiing, water skiing and the largest inflatable waterpark in the region. I opted to go diving among the vibrant coral reefs of the Red Sea, which most divers agree are arguably some of the best in the world.
We departed from Ras AlAbyadh late in the afternoon and traveled north overnight towards Sindalah Island. The weather and the beautiful beaches on the island make it the perfect location for spending the day relaxing and unwinding.