Outbound leisure travel accounted for 48 percent of cross-border spend as Saudi residents took advantage of school holidays to combine visits to family abroad with international leisure trips. The study also found that 25 percent of leisure travelers took multiple trips this summer, averaging 11 days per trip.

 Family travel comes to the fore:
Summer 2025 marked a strong increase in family travel, which accounted for 20 percent of outbound trips, nearly double the RoY average of 13 percent. Ticketing spend grew 69 percent compared to RoY, with families of two to five people spending an average of USD2,060 on tickets alone.

 Top outbound destinations:

Manama remained the leading Gulf destination, with 20 percent traveller share, followed by Dubai (13 percent traveller share). Cairo followed with 9 percent of traveller share, alongside Istanbul (8 percent) and London (4 percent). Auckland, at 15,000 km away, was the farthest destination visited by Saudi travellers.

 Kids shape the itinerary:
The study underscores the rising influence of children on family itineraries. Outbound spend by Saudi-issued cards at toy merchants grew 140 percent, while amusement park spending surged 135 percent. On average, Saudi travelers spent USD540 per card on accommodation and USD135 per card on entertainment, underlining the family-oriented nature of trips.

 Visa’s analysis reveals that summer travel is becoming more experiential, with families at the centre of this trend. Banks and tourism authorities have an opportunity to create targeted travel rewards, collaborate with key international and local merchants for exclusive benefits, and design early-booking incentives tailored to families.