Online travel agency Thomas Cook has launched package holidays to Saudi Arabia in response to growing demand for the Middle East.
The agency said it has seen a 700% increase in bookings to the United Arab Emirates, including Dubai, which has prompted the expansion of its portfolio to include Saudi.
It is offering a choice of 50 hotels across the country, including in Jeddah and Riyadh, with accommodation available on a room-only, bed and breakfast, or half-board basis.
Direct flights operate seven days a week from London Gatwick, London Heathrow and Manchester, with indirect flights available from Birmingham, Edinburgh and London Stansted.
Thomas Cook said Saudi Arabia offers ‘various unique experiences’ from Jeddah’s UNESCO-listed Al-Balad and diving in the Red Sea just offshore to visiting the birthplace of the Saudi state at Diriyah and experiencing the desert.
Senior Commercial Product Manager Peter Davies said: “We’re seeing a real shift in customer appetite towards new long-haul destinations that offer something genuinely different, with Saudi Arabia in particular offering experiences that can’t be replicated elsewhere.
“We’re thrilled to give customers the opportunity to explore a rapidly evolving country with the reassurance, flexibility and value that booking a Thomas Cook package holiday provides.”
