Ahmed Al-Khateeb, Saudi Minister of Tourism and Chairman of the Executive Council of the United Nations Tourism Organisation, stated that Saudi Arabia is investing $800 billion in tourism infrastructure and destinations.
“This will be the highest number of tourism investments in the world,” he said, emphasising that Saudi Arabia will alter the global tourism landscape. “The opportunities and facilities that we provide to investors will make the tourism sector more attractive, and we are proceeding in a distinctive way in building the sector,” he stated.
The minister made the remarks while addressing the conference, “Investing in tourism: opportunities and challenges in sustainable financing,” which is taking place on the sidelines of the 50th UN Tourism Regional Commission for the Middle East in the Oman capital, Muscat.
He stated that Saudi Arabia plans to add more than 250,000 rooms in the tourism hospitality sector over the next few years, boosting regional tourism. He emphasised that Saudi Arabia has begun to develop its tourism industry as part of the Saudi Vision 2030. “The development efforts have raised the sector’s contribution from three percent of the Saudi economy to 4.5 percent by the end of last year, and this aims to reach the sector’s contribution to 10 percent by the year 2030.”
Attracting and qualifying national human resources are two important factors for developing the tourism sector in the region, Al-Khateeb said, stressing that the Saudi Ministry of Tourism pays special attention to the issue of qualifying national cadres working in the sector, and is working to attract young Saudi men and women to this vital sector.
Also Read:
The Third European Film Festival is set to Launch in Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia’s Non-oil Exports Increased by 3.3%: GASTAT.
