Saudi Arabia's tourism sector has seen growth spikes during the last Haj and Umrah seasons, according to Elaf Group, a leading provider of travel, tourism and hospitality services.

This was evident in the increase of occupancy rate in hotel rooms across the country, signifying marked growth in hospitality operations in this time, the company said.

The positive numbers complement the Saudi government’s initiatives of Vision 2030, which aims to increase the number of Haj and Umrah pilgrims to 30 million annually.

Recent tourism reports have reflected a five per cent rise in Umrah pilgrims, which is being predicted to grow by 30 per cent in the next three years, it said.

The visitors came from all over the world and were composed of people who came specially to immerse themselves in the rich, religious and cultural traditions that the kingdom has to offer.

Looking to address the expected surge in tourists coming for religious purposes, the country has already started construction of 35,770 rooms in 81 hotels, with 24,133 rooms being constructed in Makkah alone.

Ziyad Bin Mahfouz, CEO, Elaf Group, said: “We are happy to see a marked growth in tourism in Saudi Arabia during 2016. This spike in visitors showcases the country’s position as the world’s premier religious tourism site and we continue to support this by providing the highest quality of services and providing innovative packages that will address the current market needs.”

Saudi Arabia’s government has always recognised tourism as a key pillar in its efforts to diversify its economy and move away from its dependence on the oil and gas sector. Religious pilgrims currently contribute 2 to 3 per cent of Saudi's GDP.  In a bid to further enhance the sector, infrastructure projects to double the capacity and accommodate the number of both Haj and Umrah visitors to around 5 million and 15 million respectively, are currently under way.

Elaf has always maintained its position as one of the leading providers in the Middle East travel and tourism sector, particularly specialising in offering religious tourism services and facilitating Haj and Umrah for all pilgrims through key partnerships with notable hospitality organizations to ensure that the distinguished clientele is provided with unparalleled services. - TradeArabia News Service