As Founding Day approaches in Saudi Arabia, residents are eagerly planning their getaways, with international destinations such as Egypt, India, and Turkey emerging as top choices.
Skyscanner, a leading travel website, reports a significant 71 percent surge in flight searches in anticipation of the annual holiday, which falls on February 22.
Skyscanner's analysis reveals the top ten most sought-after international destinations by Saudi residents for travel during Founding Day week in 2024, compared to the corresponding period in 2023. Egypt is first on the list, then India, Turkey, the UAE, the UK, Morocco, Thailand, Italy, France, and Indonesia.
Moreover, domestic tourism within Saudi Arabia is gaining momentum, with the country ranking among the top five searched destinations for residents planning trips during the Founding Day holidays. Interestingly, Skyscanner's "Everywhere" search tool is among the most popular search terms among Saudi residents, indicating a desire for inspiration, particularly with budget-friendly options.
With the help of this cutting-edge tool, travelers can browse a wide range of locations sorted by lowest price from 1,200 travel websites combined into a single platform.
"With the Saudi Arabian Founding Day holiday quickly approaching, it's clear that travelers are looking to make the most of their time off with short getaways. More than 70% of flight searches are for trips lasting one week or less," says Ayoub El Mamoun, a travel expert at Skyscanner. Traditional favorites including Egypt, Turkey, and India are seeing a 71% increase in demand for Founding Day week travel compared to last year. Saudi tourists are looking to reunite with loved ones and enjoy a much-deserved respite.
