In a bid to enhance the travel experience within its borders, Saudi Arabia has unveiled a suite of over 1,500 tourist activities, developed in collaboration with the private sector. The CEO of the Saudi Tourism Authority highlighted these advancements during the second Saudi Tourism Forum in Riyadh.
Fahd Hamidaddin, delivering the opening address, pointed out that the Kingdom boasts the necessary resources, including natural and human assets, backed by steadfast leadership, to fulfill its ambitious tourism objectives.
“Compared to last year’s count of under 500 tourism experiences, we’ve now expanded to 1,500. The private sector’s contributions have been instrumental in this growth,” Hamidaddin remarked. He further noted the addition of 17 tourism companies to the sector, introducing fresh partners and enterprises.
The official projected that this sector’s growth would continue, drawing an estimated 2 million visitors each year. Additionally, he highlighted a marked increase in hourly flights by 70 points—a metric reflecting improvements in the Kingdom’s flight services.
This upsurge in tourism and related services, according to Hamidaddin, resulted from the synergistic efforts between government entities and the private sector. “In the hotel industry, for instance, we’ve improved service standards at various tourist destinations, including offering multilingual support for travelers,” he explained.
Hamidaddin also announced at the forum that over 50 agreements and memorandums of understanding would be signed, aiming to bolster cooperation and exchange knowledge within the Saudi tourism sector.
“Our intention with this forum is to strengthen collaboration among tourism professionals in Saudi Arabia and share insights, ideas, and strategies, ensuring the sustainability and global prominence of the Kingdom as a premier travel destination,” he affirmed.
The Saudi Tourism Minister, Ahmed Al-Khateeb, echoed this sentiment, outlining the Kingdom’s major projects designed to develop tourism and attract investment. He also addressed the competition for the 1.7 billion global tourists in search of the unique experiences Saudi Arabia offers.
In a recent update, Al-Khateeb adjusted the Kingdom’s 2030 tourism goals to 150 million visitors from the original target of 100 million, anticipating that the initial milestone would be reached by the end of 2023. “With an expected contribution of around 6 percent to the gross domestic product this year, we’ve been directed to increase our targets to 150 million visitors,” he stated.
Out of the revised target, approximately half of the visitors are expected to be international, with the other half comprised of domestic travelers. Additionally, Al-Khateeb confirmed plans to invest over $800 billion in the next decade to support the burgeoning sector.