خصائص السياح بمنطقة عسير و أهميتها للتخطيط و الاستثمار السياحي

Abstract EN

This paper aims to portray the economic, social, cultural and spatial characteristics of the Summer tourists of Asir Region, southwestern Saudi Arabia, and infer their significance to tourism planning and investment in the region.

Pertinent data are obtained through survey studies conducted in three tourism seasons, 1411, 1416, and 1416, in addition to other data gathered from different sources.

The main findings of the study indicate that: The major thrust of tourist inflow comes from the Western and Central regions of Saudi Arabia.

Asir tourism is an overwhelmingly family tourism with an average of 6 attendants per tourist,the majority of them are less than 10 years old.

Asir hosts tourists of all income levels.

Over 50% of the families spend less the SR 500 per days during their stay in Asir.

The study highlights the pointers and significance of the results to tourism planning and investment in Asir .

Finally, the study concludes with some relevant recommendations for a sustained and an appropriate tourism development in the region.