Summer 2025 travel trends revealed: Where everyone's gone this summer
Jeddah, Riyadh, Abha, Dammam, and Al Madinah top the list of local destinations
Travellers from Saudi Arabia have been flocking to local destinations this summer, with Jeddah, Riyadh, Abha, Dammam, Al Madinah, and Jazan among the hottest destinations.
That’s according to Wego, the number one travel app and the largest online travel marketplace in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), which also reports that domestic travel in the Kingdom this year is up 5.66 per cent to reach 35 per cent, as travellers discover new destinations on their doorstep.
Domestic tourism is experiencing a surge, and it’s not slowing down. As more destinations offer cultural, natural, and entertainment experiences, local travel is no longer simply the fallback option.
Riyadh experienced a 19.37 per cent increase, followed by Jeddah at 18.61 per cent, while Al Madinah saw a notable surge of 37.18 per cent. Dammam also recorded a 23.13 per cent rise, reflecting the growing appeal of the Eastern Province’s beaches and attractions.
Solo trips dominate Saudi travel, accounting for 68.3 per cent, while couples account for 16 per cent and families for 8 per cent.
This growth is partly driven by the Saudi Tourism Authority’s ongoing “Colour Your Summer” marketing campaign, which promotes the kingdom as a year-round destination, highlighting cooler mountain escapes in Aseer, Al Baha, and Taif.
Meanwhile, Jeddah Season 2025 spans seven destinations across the city with family entertainment, beaches, and cultural shows along the waterfront, transforming the Red Sea coast into a summer-long attraction. This is complemented by new hotel openings such as Rixos Obhur Jeddah, Saudi Arabia’s first true all-inclusive resort.
On the international front, Europe continues to attract significant interest from Saudi travellers for summer 2025. The most searched destinations this season are Baku, Sarajevo, Tbilisi, London, Moscow, and Milan.
Among these, Milan stands out with a 25 per cent increase in travel searches compared to the previous year. This comes as no surprise, given the direct flights from Riyadh by Flynas and Saudia, as well as from Jeddah by Wizz Air Malta.
When it comes to accommodation preferences, 80.5 per cent of Saudi travellers are seeking hotels, 7 per cent are looking for apartments, and 3.7 per cent prefer aparthotels, according to Wego.
Luxury remains all-important, with 45 per cent of searches focused on four-star hotels and nearly 19 per cent on five-star properties. Because when it comes to summer escapes, a little luxury goes a long way.
Images: Supplied / Unsplash
