RIYADH: The tourism and economic sectors of the Al-Madinah region are expected to develop following the signing of an agreement between Cruise Saudi and the Al-Madinah Region Development Authority.

Cruise Saudi, a company wholly owned by the Public Investment Fund, signed a memorandum of understanding with the region’s authority to foster growth and social impact on the sidelines of the Saudi Tourism Forum in Riyadh. 

The agreement aims to enrich visitors’ experiences, create jobs, improve facilities, and drive economic prosperity. It operates within the Kingdom’s broader objective of welcoming 150 million tourists annually by 2030. 

As part of the deal, both parties will utilize their capabilities and experiences to achieve this joint goal. 

According to a company release, the entities share a vision to advance and aid access to Al-Madinah, develop the region, and expand facilities to accommodate an increased number of tourists.

Executive Director of Destinations Development and Management at Cruise Saudi, Mashhoor Baeshen, said: “Unique in history and culture, Al-Madinah has so much to offer tourists seeking an authentic Saudi experience.

“Cruise Saudi’s signing of the MoU with Al-Madinah Region Development Authority marks our commitment to showcasing the most significant historical sites of Saudi through a carefully curated array of onshore experiences.” 

The PIF subsidiary works alongside ministries and regulatory authorities to build the offshore and onshore cruise ecosystem and has recently completed its third season, welcoming more than 300,000 passengers. 

Operating within the broader context of Saudi’s Vision 2030 to diversify the economy, Cruise Saudi plans to welcome 1.3 million passengers annually by 2035 and support the country’s tourism industry. 

With port facilities in Jeddah, Yanbu and Dammam, Cruise Saudi enables cruise lines from around the globe to include Saudi as a port of call on their itineraries and add new destinations that reveal the Kingdom’s rich cultural heritage, history, and natural wonders, the release said.