4 out of 10 Saudis prefer family time during holidays

A recent survey of Saudis, conducted by Disney Destinations — home to some of the world’s most magical entertainment and recreational destinations — has revealed the emotional elements at play when it comes to modern families spending quality time together.

93 percent of parents recount equal or increased levels of satisfaction with the quality of time spent with their children when on family vacations, with four out of 10 Saudi respondents citing bonding and reconnecting as a family as their favorite element of family holidays. 

Madinah ranked bonding and reconnecting as a family as a priority of a family holiday (57 percent), whereas respondents in Riyadh and Jeddah favored “relaxing/recharging” as an attractive element of taking a family holiday (67 percent and 60 percent respectively). 

Males look to vacations to “take a break from regular work/school routines” more prominently than women (57 percent, versus 33 percent of women), with long working hours (69 percent) and time spent using technology and social media (38 percent) being listed as common modern lifestyle traits that can interfere with creating meaningful family moments in day-to-day life. 

Peter Welch, VP sales and marketing at Disney Destinations, said: “As everyday life becomes more hectic and complex, vacations become an ever more vital part of the calendar. These adventures allow us to enhance our routines in a positive way and reconnect with family and friends, resulting in moments and memories that will be cherished for a lifetime.”

Licensed psychologist Dr. Elena Andrioti said: “Our hectic busy lives are filled with stressors that tend to accumulate throughout the year. These daily stressors can take a toll on physical and psychological health. A well-organized vacation filled with unplugged quality family time can break this stress cycle and allow us to reset and simply let go of our usual routines. So, take a break, create memories, bond with your loved ones, indulge in great food, enjoy various activities, get some uninterrupted sleep and soak in that sunshine.”