Saudi Red Crescent fields almost 500 calls on first night of curfew
Saudi Red Crescent fields almost 500 calls on first night of curfew/node/1646731/saudi-arabia
Saudi Red Crescent fields almost 500 calls on first night of curfew
Training exercises have been taking place to test procedures for moving COVID-19 patients from their homes to designated medical centers. (Photo/ Supplied)
Saudi Red Crescent fields almost 500 calls on first night of curfew
98 percent of suspected COVID-19 reports had turned out to be negative
Updated 25 March 2020
ASEEL BASHRAHEEL
JEDDAH: The Saudi Red Crescent Authority in Jeddah on Monday received 493 emergency calls — the first day of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) curfew.
Jeddah-based spokesman for the authority, Abdullah Ahmed Abu Zaid, told the Sabq newspaper that it was important for people to comply with directives to stay at home. In emergencies, people could contact the authority’s phone service on 997 or use its Asafny app, he said.
Red Crescent Authority directors have been carrying out inspections to ensure that arrangements are in place to deal with any situation and medical teams have been working to assist those in need. Training exercises have also been taking place to test procedures for moving COVID-19 patients from their homes to designated medical centers.
In an interview with Rotana Khaleejiya’s “Ya Hala” program, the authority’s medical director, Dr. Mishaal Al-Enezi, said teams were ready to tackle the pandemic in all Saudi regions, including rural areas. “We have 7,200 employees, paramedics, specialists and doctors working around the clock across the regions of the Kingdom.”
HIGHLIGHTS
• The Saudi Red Crescent Authority can be contacted through its call service 997.
• The authority’s app ‘Asafny’ can also be used in case of an emergency.
Al-Enezi said that 98 percent of suspected COVID-19 reports had turned out to be negative. “We’re currently going through a seasonal change, but any changes in temperature or anyone showing signs of flu is being isolated until their test results are negative.”
Speaking on TV morning show “Sabah Al-Saudiah,” general director of Hail’s Red Crescent Authority, Abdulrahman Al-Yahya, said: “We receive reports daily on emergencies, accidents and obviously suspected cases of coronavirus through our emergency number and apps.
“Our operatives then question cases and if a case is suspicious, they dispatch an ambulance near to the patient’s location and delegate with the necessary medical center that shall receive the patient.”
Saudi tourism minister urges governments to ease travel barriers amid global tensions
Tourism Minister Ahmed Al-Khateeb said visa restrictions and connectivity were major hurdles disrupting global movement, urging more frequent flights to smaller destinations
Panel examined key challenges facing the $10 trillion global travel industry, including rising geopolitical tensions, climate volatility, artificial intelligence and growing cyber risks
Updated 9 sec ago
Sherouk Zakaria
DUBAI: Saudi Arabia’s tourism minister, Ahmed Al-Khateeb, has said travel should be made more accessible and flexible as it fosters dialogue and peace at a time when geopolitical tensions are prompting governments to impose stricter visa restrictions.
He was speaking during a panel discussion at the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos, which examined the key challenges facing the $10 trillion global travel industry. These include rising geopolitical tensions, climate volatility, artificial intelligence and growing cyber risks.
“Tourism brings peace at a time where everybody wants to hear about peace. It connects people, encourages dialogue, creates economies, and serves smaller economies like Africa, Latin America, the Pacific and the Caribbean countries,” said Al-Khateeb.
His remarks come as the US has tightened visa and immigration policies, affecting nationals from dozens of countries, and as anti-tourism protests have surfaced in parts of Europe amid mounting concerns over overtourism in major destinations.
He highlighted Saudi Arabia’s achievements in tourism, saying the sector has created 250,000 jobs in the last five years and boosted female participation to 47 percent, exceeding the global average of 45 percent. He highlighted the Kingdom’s focus on building new airports and expanding existing ones, as well as boosting the hotel sector to cater for 150 million travelers by 2030.
The sector’s contribution to the economy has grown from about 3 percent in 2020 to 5 percent today, with plans to raise that figure to between 8 and 10 percent by 2030.
With travel and tourism accounting for around 10 percent of global GDP, Al-Khateeb said that raising the sector’s contribution in Saudi Arabia would strengthen the Kingdom’s economy, make it more resilient and sustainable, and “allow us to share our beautiful culture with the world.”
He said visa restrictions and connectivity were major hurdles disrupting global movement, urging more frequent flights to smaller destinations to diversify traveler experiences and expand economies beyond major hubs.
With panelists citing last year’s anti-tourism protests in Spain and Mexico, Al-Khateeb said overtourism, already a challenge in some cities, will worsen as the UN projects an increase in the number of global travelers from 1.5 billion to 2 billion by 2050. He therefore urged governments to promote smaller cities and spread tourism beyond traditional hotspots to boost economic growth and create more jobs.
Panel at the World Economic Forum examined key trends and challenges shaping the $10 trillion global travel industry. (Screengrab)
Expressing similar sentiments, Martin Eurnekian, CEO of Corporacion America International, linked economic growth to travel and said travel deregulation in the past had boosted European economies.
“Our history shows when growth was accelerated and these were the cases where the (travel) industry was set free,” said Eurnekian, adding geopolitical tensions and economic regulations were exacting a heavy cost on the industry.
“This is an industry based on freedom and globalization and if we lose sight of that we can really hurt the industry,” he added.
Cara Morton, CEO of global businesses and operations and a member of the executive committee at Zurich Insurance Group, said “disruption is now the norm,” citing an in-house assessment that found 80 percent of 4,000 business travelers experienced some form of disruption during their journeys.
She highlighted the role of artificial intelligence in steering people to new, less crowded destinations: “Obviously that will require governments to then make sure that those places have got the right infrastructure, but we will be able to see wealth distributed more equally. So the key is how we use AI in this area.”
Al-Khateeb said that while AI can enhance traveler experience, it should not replace human interaction.
“We will use tech when it isn’t necessary … such as using AI (for passengers to) move fast and finish their biometrics, but when you go to destination, you want to be served by humans not machines.”
He highlighted global travel trends, including the growing role of airports as destinations in their own right, driven by retail and food and beverage offerings, as well as the rapid rise of wellness tourism.
“Travel interacts with a wide range of sectors from aviation and airports to mobility, transportation, hotels, retail, and entertainment,” said Al-Khateeb.
