Riyadh Air, Saudi Arabia’s new world-class airline, and Saudi Tourism Authority, have signed an MoU at Dubai’s Arabian Travel Market, which will enhance the travel experience for passengers to and from Saudi Arabia. Riyadh Air aims to fly to more than 100 countries by 2030, and through this partnership, both entities will collaborate on various initiatives to enhance the level of services for tourists.
STA CEO Fahd Hamidaddin said: “Increasing Saudi’s connectivity with the world is a key pillar of our tourism strategy and will ensure we sustain our rapid growth and meet our new ambitious target of 150 million visits by 2030.
“This exciting new partnership with Riyadh Air will support our goals and ensure more visitors can travel to experience the cool mountains, pristine waters and dynamic cities that make Saudi a great year-round destination.”
Hamidaddin added: “We are currently connected to over 180 destinations and are aiming to triple annual passenger traffic to 330 million by 2030 and this new agreement will help turbocharge these efforts.”
Riyadh Air CEO Tony Douglas said: “This is another momentous day in the history of Riyadh Air. Working alongside the STA to elevate the travel experience for our guests and those coming to visit the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia signifies what we’re all about. We are elevating standards across the board in aviation to previously unseen levels. We have a shared commitment to travel and tourism in the Kingdom along with our forward-thinking approach to innovation, sustainability, and the satisfaction of our guests.”
The partnership will focus on several key areas:
New routes and destinations
Riyadh Air and the STA will jointly announce new routes and destinations to raise global awareness among travelers.
Joint marketing activities
Riyadh Air and the STA will promote Saudi Arabia along with other new destinations with an aligned strategy to attract and inform guests around the world. Riyadh Air is expected to contribute to the Kingdom’s non-oil GDP growth by $20 billion while directly and indirectly creating more than 200,000 new jobs globally and locally.
Sponsorship opportunities
The agreement will see Riyadh Air and the STA engage in sponsorship opportunities and enable both parties to leverage each other’s networks and resources to promote tourism in the Kingdom.
Presence at global events
Working in unison, Riyadh Air and the STA will ensure they have a notable presence in key industry trade shows along with major international events in the travel and tourism sector. Their participation will enable both Riyadh Air and the STA to showcase their offerings, make new announcements, and unveil key developments.
Accessibility to STOCH
The MoU will ensure accessibility to tourism-related platforms such as the Sustainable Tourism Observatories in Cities to keep Saudi Arabia and Riyadh Air visible and accessible to tourists and guests year-round.
Collaboration in loyalty programs
Travelers will reap the rewards of both parties’ loyalty programs, through joint promotions and incentives, which will encourage further visits to Saudi Arabia, and beyond, with Riyadh Air.
Distribution and payment solutions
Airline booking processes will be made simpler than ever due to collaboration on payment solutions, leveraging world-leading technology and new digital methods.
Tourism Accelerator Program
Riyadh Air and the STA will both be active in the Tourism Accelerator Program, driving innovation, growth and sustainability within the tourism sector.
Development of tourism products
As globally recognizable entities, both will work in unison to develop and produce various travel and tourism products to enhance the overall experience for travelers.
Visitor feedback
As part of the agreement, Riyadh Air and the STA will gather invaluable feedback and information from travelers to improve services and the overall experience where necessary.
