TBILISI: Saudi Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khateeb emphasized on Friday the importance of connectivity, sustainability manpower and the challenges of “overtourism.”
He was speaking during the World Tourism Day celebrations in Tbilisi, Georgia, on Friday.
One of the main issues facing tourism, Al-Khateeb said, is sustainability, which is vital for the country’s economy, job creation and inclusion.
“We look at sustainability in Saudi Arabia from three angles: from social, economic and environmental perspectives,” he said.
“We were hit hard by COVID-19, especially small and medium enterprises, and we learned the hard way.”
Al-Khateeb hopes that the 80 percent of small and medium enterprises contributing to the Kingdom’s industry and the 45 percent of women working in the sector will not suffer due to any future crisis.
The minister stressed the importance of creating policies that would help smaller countries in the sector and at the same time protect their nature and heritage.
The minister also highlighted the importance of environmental sustainability and how Saudi Arabia has established the well-funded Global Tourism Sustainability Center.
He said: “Eighty percent of people in the workforce in our industry are youth. We need to hire the youth.”
According to Al-Khateeb, the international tourism industry accounts for about 10 percent of the global economy and is expected to increase to about 20 percent by 2032.
“In 2019, tourism used to represent only 3 percent of Saudi economy. Today, it has reached 5 percent. And our target is to make it reach 10 percent by 2030,” he said.
“Last year, we received 27 million international arrivals to Saudi Arabia. In 2019, they were only 12 million.”
Saudi tourism minister highlights challenges facing sector
https://arab.news/v7f3x
Saudi tourism minister highlights challenges facing sector
- One of the main issues facing tourism, Al-Khateeb said, is sustainability, which is vital for the country’s economy, job creation and inclusion
- “We look at sustainability in Saudi Arabia from three angles: from social, economic and environmental perspectives”
Saudi Arabia welcomes US designation of Sudanese Muslim Brotherhood as terrorist organization
- Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud welcomed the United States’ decision to designate the Sudanese branch of the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization
DUBAI: Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud welcomed the United States’ decision to designate the Sudanese branch of the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization during a phone call with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, according to a statement issued by the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday.
During the call, Farhan expressed the Kingdom’s support for Washington’s move and emphasized Saudi Arabia’s backing for measures that strengthen regional stability and security.
The discussion comes as the US Department of State announced it is designating the Sudanese Muslim Brotherhood as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) and intends to formally designate the group as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) effective March 16, 2026.
According to the State Department, the Sudanese Muslim Brotherhood has used violence against civilians to undermine efforts to resolve Sudan’s ongoing conflict and promote its Islamist ideology.
US officials claim fighters associated with the group have carried out mass executions of civilians during the war, although no evidence was given in the departments statement released on March 9.
Washington also highlighted links between the group and Iran. The State Department claimed many of the group’s fighters had received training and other support from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
