Tourist festivals in Saudi Arabia have generated revenue exceeding 7 billion riyals ($1.9 billion) to provinces' economies, Okaz reported Friday (November 25th).

Abdullah Ben Salman al-Jahni, tourism vice chairman in the General Authority for Tourism and Antiquities said that according to recent statistics from the Tourist Research and Information Centre, the number of domestic tourist trips within the kingdom in 2010 totalled about 22 million, in which tourists spent more than 31 million riyals ($8.3 million).

Al-Jahni said tourism is distinguished due to its economic impact on rural areas far from developed centres, an aid which is not provided through other economic sectors.