Due to security concerns and a lack of stability in some Arab countries, many Saudi families have chosen to spend their holidays inside the Kingdom.

“There are many tourist attractions within the Kingdom that families can enjoy and that is something to be proud of,” says father-of-five Ahmad Al-Onizi. However, he says the huge rise in the prices of accommodation prevents him from visiting them.

Like Al-Onizi, families who assume that spending their vacation inside the Kingdom is less expensive than traveling abroad are faced with the reality of expensive hotels and furnished apartments.

“The prices of flats, hotels and rented apartments double or even triple and there is no one to complain to,” says Om Fahd, a mother of six.

She chooses to spend her holidays in the Kingdom as she believes it keeps children in touch with their homeland.

“A few years back, our budget would allow for a vacation in the Eastern Province or the western parts of the country, but it is becoming more and more expensive,” says Om Fahd.

Although the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities inaugurated a program in August 2010 where it reevaluated hotels and rental units in the Kingdom and they were given a classification, prices are still not regulated and subject to market forces.

SCTA has stressed the importance of hotels and furnished flats observing the new pricing policies.

Salah Al Bakheet, SCTA vice president for investment, said a new pricing policy was circulated to accommodation providers and came into force on June 13, 2010.

Prices are still bound to rise during the hot seasons, says Mosead, owner of a furnished apartment building.

He added that electricity and water bills rise simultaneously, contributing to a rise in the rents of apartments.