PEOPLE & CULTURE
Guidance for travel professionals designing respectful Saudi journeys around people, food, crafts, heritage and regional identity.
A culture-led program connects places with the people, histories and everyday practices that give them meaning. It should be relevant, respectful and realistic to operate.
DIRECT ANSWER
What Makes a Saudi Program Culture-Led?
It connects each experience to the journey’s purpose, recognizes regional differences, prepares travelers and hosts, protects time for conversation and avoids staged or generic “local interaction.”
1. BEGIN WITH A QUESTION
Create a Story Travelers Can Follow
A real question helps guides, hosts and travelers connect separate experiences into a larger understanding of Saudi Arabia.
2–4. DESIGN WITH PEOPLE
Three Principles for Meaningful Encounters
Recognize Regional Difference
Connect architecture, food, landscape, crafts, livelihoods, history and contemporary change to the specific region.
Choose Relevant Hosts
Include people because their knowledge and experience support the program—not as decoration or a photograph.
Prepare Everyone
Travelers need context; hosts need to know who is visiting, why, and what language or interpretation support is available.
5. PROTECT TIME
Conversation Cannot Be Rushed
Meaningful exchange needs an introduction, explanation, translation, questions, a shared activity or demonstration, informal conversation and an appropriate close.
6. AVOID CULTURAL PERFORMANCE
Authenticity Is Not a Marketing Claim
It comes from relevance, consent, respect and honest context—not from activities created only for photographs or undefined promises to “meet locals.”
Culture-Led Program Review Framework
Supports the journey’s purpose
Protects consent and dignity
Helps travelers understand
Suits the market and group
Can be operated responsibly
Creates human exchange
THE 88DESTINATIONS PERSPECTIVE
Local Hosts Who Also Understand Travelers
Our founders created 88Destinations around people and culture. As Saudi locals who have each traveled to more than 90 destinations, Abdullah Ashgan and Sara Omar Bin Mahfoodh bring host and traveler perspectives to program design.
Author: Abdullah Ashgan, Co-founder — Business Development and Growth Markets
Operations review: Sara Omar Bin Mahfoodh and relevant regional hosts or specialists
Reviewed: 10 August 2026
Host participation, access, photography and publication permissions must be confirmed for each program.
BUILDING A PEOPLE-FOCUSED JOURNEY?
Develop the Program With Our Saudi Team
Share the market, traveler interests, regions, group format and type of cultural exchange you want to create.