RIYADH: Saudi Arabia is witnessing remarkable growth in tourism events and festivals which, together, attract millions of visitors, help to generate revenue, and create temporary job opportunities for citizens, according to the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTH).
Over the course of this summer, the SCTH, in cooperation with tourism development councils and municipal authorities throughout the country, will have staged more than 113 tourism festivals.
Those festivals, the SCTH media department said on Friday, involve “more than 820 activities including cultural, heritage, sports, adventure, environment, entertainment, and shopping events,” adding that those events are expected to attract a total of more than 12.5 million visitors, and to help create more than 91,000 temporary jobs.
A recent SCTH report revealed that — between 2005 to 2016 — 730 festivals were held in the Kingdom, which, in total, attracted more than 85 million visitors, including 28 million tourists.
According to the report, those festivals generated over SR8 billion ($2.133 billion), and helped create more than 86,000 temporary jobs, 70 percent of them for young people.
The hospitality sector has also recorded remarkable growth, according to the report. The total number of hotels in the Kingdom rose from 1,465 in 2014 to 1,582 in 2016. A further 42 hotels are expected to open this year, while 219 hotels are currently under construction.
Since supervision of the accommodation sector shifted to the SCTH in 2009, the number of licensed tourist accommodation facilities has multiplied from 1,402 to 6,527 in 2016, registering a growth rate of just over 365 percent.
As part of its drive to develop the tourism sector and help diversify its economy, the Kingdom this week launched a huge Red Sea tourism project that aims to develop 50 islands and other coastal areas into luxury resorts, set against the backdrop of the ancient ruins at Mada’in Saleh, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Saudi tourism events and festivals help generate jobs, revenue
Saudi tourism events and festivals help generate jobs, revenue
Foreign ministers chair Saudi-Omani coordination council meeting in Muscat
MUSCAT: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan met with Oman’s Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al-Busaidi on Monday.
They reviewed bilateral relations between their nations and ways to enhance and develop them across various fields. Additionally, they discussed regional and international developments.
The ministers co-chaired the third meeting of the Saudi-Omani Coordination Council in the Omani capital, Muscat, with the participation of the heads of the Council’s subsidiary committees and the two heads of the Council’s General Secretariat teams.
The meeting comes as an affirmation of the keenness of Saudi and Omani leaders to strengthen ties and advance them toward greater prosperity for both nations.
In his remarks during the meeting, Prince Faisal affirmed that gathering builds on the previous council meeting, held last year in AlUla, and on its positive and fruitful outcomes within the framework of the approved recommendations and initiatives.
He stressed the importance of continuing the work of the council’s subsidiary committees to complete the necessary procedures to implement the remaining initiatives, and of the General Secretariat’s role in follow-up and in addressing any challenges that may hinder implementation.
He also underscored the importance of developing and enhancing trade relations, stimulating investment, and strengthening cooperation between the public and private sectors.
He also praised the ongoing work to establish and launch the Coordination Council’s electronic platform, which aims to connect all committee work and initiatives to facilitate follow-up on the Council’s progress.
Al-Busaidi affirmed in his remarks the qualitative progress in relations between the two countries and the notable development witnessed across numerous sectors toward achieving economic integration and enhancing intra-trade and joint investments.
The Omani foreign minister also highlighted deeper cooperation in the security and judicial fields, as well as the cultural and tourism sectors, noting the advanced and continuous political cooperation, consultation, and coordination on regional and international issues.
