Saudi Winter: Tourism Authority Announces 1,000 Events across 7 Destinations
The Saudi Tourism Authority (STA) has launched the Saudi Winter events calendar, announcing activities and seasonal events across the Kingdom, reported the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
Saudi Winter Calendar
Saudi Winter calendar includes events and activities scheduled to take place in 7 destinations: Riyadh, Jeddah, AlUla, the Red Sea, the Eastern Province, Madinah, and Hail. The events will run from October 2024 until the end of the first quarter of 2025.
The Saudi Winter calendar is part of the Saudi Winter Program, which involves more than 1,000 tourism experience across the Kingdom and over 500 special offers. Moreover, the Winter calendar includes several outstanding events and seasons, such as Riyadh Season, Diriyah Season, AlUla Season, Madinah Season, and the Jeddah Calendar.
Additionally, it features special experiences such as the Dakar Rally, MDL Beast, Saudi Cruise, and the Islamic Arts Biennale. It also includes hiking trails, camps and caravans in winter destinations.
The Visit Saudi platform provides more details on the Saudi Winter Program 2024-2025, special offers, promotions and packages. The first phase of the program involves more than 50 offers in collaboration with private sector partners.
Ambitious Targets
Recently, the Minister of Tourism and the STA’s Chairman of the Board of Directors, Ahmed bin Aqeel Al-Khateeb, has announced the launch of the Program, during a workshop with tourism stakeholders to discuss the recent achievements, goals and challenges.
He said: “With the unwavering support of the Kingdom’s leadership to the tourism sector, and with the efforts of the tourism sector and private sector partners, we launch the Saudi Winter calendar, as part of the Saudi Winter Program. This raises our hopes and aspirations to achieve new remarkable milestones, underscoring our efforts to attract more tourists through the ongoing campaigns that target local and international markets.”
Record-breaking Achievements
On this occasion, the CEO of the STA, Fahd Hamidaddin, emphasized the progress of Saudi tourism, highlighting the recent accomplishments and record-breaking figures. He also invited tourists from around the world to enjoy the Winter Program, which has tripled the number of events and activities compared to last year, and offers unprecedented packages and offers that suit various categories of tourists.
In a new achievement, the tourism sector in Saudi Arabia has experienced a substantial growth during the first half of 2024, by reaching SAR 92.6 billion ($24.5 billion) in inbound visitor spending. This marks an 8.2% increase compared to the same period in 2023.