RIYADH: AlUla has increased its aviation capacity to 30 weekly flights and is aiming to double its hotel room supply to 2,000, a senior figure in the organization tasked with developing the area told Arab News.
Speaking on the sidelines of the TOURISE conference in Riyadh, Chief Tourism Officer at the Royal Commission for AlUla Phillip Jones explained that the aim is to create a scalable, self-sustaining ecosystem in the area that expands access while protecting heritage and landscapes.
Jones described AlUla as “a year-round destination,” with peak season from October to April driven by festivals, special events, and concerts.
He said 70 percent of AlUla’s visitors come from Saudi Arabia and the GCC, with 30 percent international, led by the US, then the UK, China, and India, along with France, Germany, and Italy.
Speaking to Arab News, Jones said: “We’re now up to 30 flights a week and additional hotel accommodations; we’re at a 1,000 rooms today. We should be at about 1,300 rooms next year, and 1,600 rooms and maybe even 2,000 the following year.”
