The Saudi Commission for Heritage and Tourism (SCTH) has revealed early results for a number of initiatives launched to improve and expand the Kingdom’s tourism industry by 2020.
A report, published with the National Center for Tourism Human Resources Development (Takamul), has revealed that since its launch 474 female students benefitted from the “Your Job...Your Scholarship” program, and that 9,631 had taken part in training provided as part of the National Transformation Program 2020 (NTP).
The SCTH and Takamul plan to send a further 1,200 students abroad to study various disciplines as part of the scholarship scheme, and to train 25,000 people via the NTP by 2020.
The report also noted that 205 female tour guides had benefited from workshops run by Takamul, studying at 14 colleges across the Kingdom where tourism, hospitality, travel and event organization feature on the curriculum. Takamul aims to train 1,400 guides by 2020.
Meanwhile, the Saudi Tourism Information and Research Center has revealed that the number of female field researchers currently working in the Kingdom has reached 80, whilst the Licenses General Authority claims 988 Saudi women are now licensed to practice tourist activities across the country.
The number of craftswomen registered in the National Program for the Development of Crafts and Handicrafts, it was revealed, stands at 3,961.
Saudi tourism commission empowers women in industry
Saudi tourism commission empowers women in industry
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.
