Saudi domestic tourists spent about SR945 million during the recent school break visiting various parts of the Kingdom, a 30 percent increase from the same period last year.

There was also a 23.5 percent increase in domestic tourists this year to 812,372 people, compared to last year.

The Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) released these figures recently at its board meeting chaired by Prince Sultan bin Salman, the organization's president and board chairman.

The SCTA said that nearly 2 million people visited its 23 festivals across the country recently, which were organized by the tourism development councils in partnership with local authorities.

The board commended the decision of the Council of Ministers to approve the King Abdullah Project to protect the country's culture and heritage, and to provide the SCTA financial and administrative support to carry out its tasks.

The board members also had discussions on infrastructure projects currently under way, scientific research, the protection and rehabilitation of heritage sites and campaigns to create awareness among citizens of this "national wealth."

The SCTA is currently restructuring its executive bodies to help upgrade tourism services, products and programs for citizens, the board said.