RIYADH: Traveling is no longer limited to a select few. With a rise in the standard of living and good marketing strategy to boost tourism, more and more Saudis look for new travel destinations.

Saudis book their holidays early and are passionate about going abroad, experiencing new cultures and visiting islands. According to the Information and Research Touristic Center (Mas), the amount spent by Saudis going abroad was SR74.5 billion in 2013.

Wafaa Al Fahied, who is a frequent traveler, said: “I am passionate about going to Europe, especially to Austria and Switzerland. Traveling means liberation and getting away from routine and re-controlling my life in a serene atmosphere. Plus, it’s a great opportunity for pleasure and getting to know other cultures and people,” she continued.

Young traveler Abdulrahman said he only travels to the United States in summer, moving from Florida to New York, Alaska and down to California. He said that every summer, he discovers new things and new states, and that he particularly likes what he sees because "every state is different".

Haifa Khaled, manager of a travel agency in Dhahran, said the trend of young people and families going away is predominantly focussed in Europe, America and Turkey. One of the reasons for this, she pointed out, is that most of those on scholarships are there which means that their relatives follow suit.

Dakhiel Al Tayyar, manager at the head office of the Al Tayaar for Travel, said that Saudi travelers have increased by 40 percent in the last five years and want to visit new places.