Arab King spends $100m on a Moroccan holiday, accounting for 1.5% of the country's revenue from tourism

The king of Saudi Arabia- Salman- has redefined the meaning of a king-sized life. However, the fact that he spent $100 million for a vacation in Morocco has a different significance, especially when it is realised that it accounts for 1.5% of the contribution to the country's revenue generation from tourism. No wonder, his 1,000-people royal entourage received a warm welcome from the Moroccan Prime Minister Saadeddine Othmani himself at Tangier airport. 

Incidentally, the most luxurious hotels were booked and the best cars were put to service. According to a report by Haaretz newspaper, vast renovation works were carried out in the hotels he prefers staying in. In the year 2016 itself, additional buildings were reportedly added to the hotel premises, apart from helipads and big top tents to entertain the guests.

Last summer too, his vacation had a similar outcome. 100 black Mercedes and Range Rovers were assigned for his convoy for a sightseeing expedition. This year too, close to 800 hotels were booked and 200 cars were rented out. Indeed, one can imagine the fan following he has in Morocco, given the kind of employment his every visit includes.

A file photo of Hotel Mirage, which is a favourite accommodation of the king of Saudi Arabia.

Room rents and fees

Having booked rooms in hotels like Mirage, Movenpick and Hilton, the total rent estimate was a whopping 240 thousand dollars every night. Incidentally, each of the room rents ranged from $200 to $500 per night. The car rentals alone cost $72,000 per day. In total, the king had to shell out $312,000 per day and a total of over $9 million for the entire one-month trip in July 2017.

Expenses may even have exceeded $100 m

It is to be noted here that residence, transportation, and overall living expenses, along with fees paid for entertainment and touristic activities have not been taken into account. If these were considered, the king's trip may even have touched an expense meter of $94,000,000.

According to the Global Finance Magazine’s index of the World’s Richest Countries, Morocco has been ranked among the world's poorest countries. Based on a report by the International Monetary Fund,  the magazine ranked the country fourth in the list of Arab's poorest countries in the period 2009-2013. Having said that, the king's contribution in the economy of one of his own can really be appreciated.