2023-09-27 19:21:59
On World Tourism Day, Saudi Arabia announces the opening of its doors to international investment
As the world emerges from the shadows of the “Covid-19” pandemic, Saudi Arabia is revealing its true potential as a world-class tourist destination. The Kingdom brought together more than 500 government officials, tourism sector leaders and experts from 120 countries to commemorate World Tourism Day under the slogan “Green Tourism and Investment,” in an event described as the largest that has ever been held over the 43 years of declaring this day, according to the description of international stakeholders in the event. sector.
The opening speech was delivered by the Saudi Minister of Tourism, Ahmed Al-Khatib, who welcomed the audience, declaring that the Kingdom’s government has opened the door for international investment in the sector and to help the private sector access global capital to build the facilities that visitors expect and need, and this has been achieved in the Kingdom.
Al-Khatib said that hosting World Tourism Day in Riyadh is an important matter for the Kingdom, as the sector is one of the most important economic activities in the world, employs one out of every 10 people on the face of the earth, provides a living for hundreds of millions of others, and can represent more than 20 percent of the world’s tourism sector. GDP of some countries.
He explained that the Kingdom needs to provide one million job opportunities in the tourism sector during the next ten years, pointing out that the government has created regarding 200,000 jobs and still needs 800,000 to match the size of hotel rooms and new products.
He revealed that nearly 500,000 new rooms are currently being built in several areas within the giant government projects in NEOM, Diriyah, and others, in addition to the private sector, which will pump more projects.
He announced an investment worth one billion dollars to launch the Riyadh School of Tourism and Hospitality, with its main headquarters in the Qiddiya region (central Kingdom), with the project scheduled to open in 2027.
Al-Khatib talked regarding the growth of the sector and the increase in the number of tourists, and how tourism has become a global industry, as tourism through global travel represented less than 3 percent of the global domestic product in 1970, and today it is recovering strongly from the pandemic, and is moving quickly toward 10 percent. The number of passengers increased from 118 million passengers in the early seventies to nearly 1.5 billion passengers in 2019, which represents an increase of 700 percent. It is expected that this percentage will return soon and increase day following day to double in the next decade.
He focused on the importance of the human factor in the tourism sector, at a time when the sector is leading the global economic recovery amid fears regarding the future of jobs in most sectors. He said: “I see a future in which humans are the primary focus in the tourism sector, and while automation of procedures threatens some jobs in other sectors, the tourism sector is a major generator of job opportunities.”
The Minister of Tourism stressed the importance of cooperation between countries around the world to achieve progress and growth in the sector in a more balanced and fair manner, noting the importance of working to create new horizons for tourism, and helping small countries achieve their ambitions, through investments, and declaring in this context his country’s readiness to intervene with financial support. Tourism projects for a better future.
He pointed out that if countries might unite regionally and even globally, opportunities for this sector might multiply, and everyone might help build bridges between countries, between the public and private sectors.
Participants in World Tourism Day activities in Riyadh (SPA)
Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization
For his part, Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization, Zurab Pololikashvili, praised the development and growth witnessed by Saudi Arabia in the tourism sector.
He said: “Saudi Arabia is showing the world what investment in tourism really looks like: education, innovation and infrastructure.”
The Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization delivers his speech (SPA)
Pololikashvili pointed out that Saudi Arabia is the first country to celebrate World Tourism Day in this manner and magnitude in more than 43 years. He added, “We are happy to return to Riyadh once more,” pointing out that the tourism sector will lead the recovery of the global economy.
…and the Arab Organization
For his part, Secretary-General of the Arab Tourism Organization, Sherif Attia, said that “what is happening in the Saudi tourism sector is an unprecedented development in terms of the volume of investments in infrastructure and the human factor as well,” pointing out that “the development of the Saudi tourism sector in this way is an addition not only to the Kingdom, but For the region as a whole.”
Attiya added, in exclusive statements to Asharq Al-Awsat on the sidelines of World Tourism Day held in Riyadh, that the development of Saudi tourism in this way “reinforces the positive impression on all Arab countries that are sure to benefit from this momentum,” stressing in this context that “Marketing tourism activities is a science and not just .”
Regarding the volume of investments in the Arab tourism sector, the Secretary-General of the Arab Tourism Organization said that the investments of Arab countries in the tourism sector currently are not sufficient… All Arab countries, without exception, have more space to increase the volume of investments in the sector.
He added that tourism investment does not only mean building a hotel or a tourist facility, but it must also take into account investment in the human factor, as the Kingdom does, and also take into account clean energy sources and places for tourists with special needs, in order to create sustainable tourist destinations.
Guterres
The United Nations website highlighted the celebration of World Tourism Day, as UN Secretary-General António Guterres said, “Investing in sustainable tourism is investing in a better future for all.”
He added, “Tourism is a powerful force for progress and mutual understanding. But in order to realize its full benefits, this power must be protected and nurtured.”
He continued: “On World Tourism Day, we recognize the vital need for green investments to build a tourism sector for people and the planet.”
The World Tourism Day activities witnessed many events and discussions that indicated that targeted investments can provide job opportunities and support local companies and industries while mitigating the environmental impacts of tourism, empowering communities and enhancing their cultures, and contributing to basic social protection systems.
The sessions also focused on the fact that investing in innovation, youth and women entrepreneurs means investing in prosperity.
On the sidelines of the events, the CEO of the Saudi Fund for Development, Sultan Al-Murshed, signed a development loan agreement worth $70 million, with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investment and Aviation of the Bahamas, Chester Cooper.
This agreement contributes to financing the Family Islands Airports Renaissance Project and increasing its operational capacity, in order to support the transportation sector and economic growth.
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