Saudi tourists advised to exercise caution, set good example

RIYADH: Saudi nationals on vacation during summer or intending to spend a few days away from home, either in other Gulf countries or European nations have been advised to exercise caution and know the culture and basic rules of those countries.
Local tourism industry player Bandar bin Khalid Al-Hokair said Saudi nationals should preserve the good reputation of their homeland and this is possible only if they know the customs and traditions of the country they are visiting.
He said that there are several benefits of traveling. Records show that Dubai is the favorite destination for Saudi tourists, mainly on short vacations. Official statistics of the emirate has revealed that 1.8 million Saudis visited Dubai last year.
Al-Hokair said traveling to favorite destinations also involves some risks like lack of tourism awareness as well as events scheduled in the country being visited. For this reason, he said, planning before leaving the Kingdom is necessary. Apart from knowing how much they need for the vacation, they should also know what places they want to visit in the country they are headed for.
Moreover, he said, foreign visitors should know the habits and traditions of people in the country they’re visiting so that they would know what to do and act and behave accordingly once they are there.
Al-Hokair said that they should also take care so that they won’t be robbed of their money or belongings, particularly by unscrupulous elements who are usually unemployed.
“They should practice extreme caution or care when they go to a money changer to make sure that they get or receive the amount in exchange for their money ,” he said.
He added that they should practice the same caution during exploratory journeys or visiting cultural and historical attractions.