RIYADH: The Asir Region Development Authority is participating in the International Hospitality Investment Forum in Hong Kong to introduce investors to the region’s tourism sector. 

The authority has a pavilion at the exhibition, running until Sept. 11, and held meetings with international investors, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.

Sultan Al-Shehri, chief of investment at the authority, participated in a session titled “Catalysts of Tourism and Hospitality Investment: Infrastructure, Regulation, Policy and Mega Projects.” 

During the session, he said the authority in the Asir region was seeking partnerships for development in the crucial tourism sector. 

The ongoing developments in Asir, Al-Shehri said, reflect the Kingdom’s broader investment and economic diversification ambitions. The aim is to position the region as a global, year-round tourist hotspot. 

The authority’s participation in the forum coincides with the conclusion of this year's summer season. An estimated 1.1 million tourists visited Asir over the last seven months.

There was an increase in tourists to Asir from 6.8 million in 2022 to 7.6 million in 2023.