Saudi Minister of Tourism highlights progress in tourism sector, public-private partnership
Date
2/23/2023 7:59:33 AM
(MENAFN) Saudi Arabia's Minister of Tourism, Ahmed Al-Khatib, has announced that the completion of the Red Sea Project will enable the Kingdom to compete in the global tourism arena and showcase the robust partnership between the public and private sectors. Al-Khatib stated that Saudi Arabia currently provides services to 1.8 million Muslims in Makkah and Madinah, a market dedicated to the Kingdom. However, once the Red Sea Project becomes operational, Saudi Arabia will compete with 100 international tourist destinations. The project is the Kingdom's giga-project and is the "world's most ambitious and exciting tourism and hospitality project."
Since the launch of the tourism strategy in 2019, the Kingdom has established numerous projects to provide services, enhance tourism, and craft regulations for the private sector. Al-Khatib added that the ministry has implemented the Air Connectivity Program (ACP) to facilitate transport into and out of the Kingdom. The ACP aims to connect cities directly with Jeddah and Riyadh, in addition to connecting over 22 destinations through direct flights.
During a meeting with investors and business owners, Al-Khatib stressed the importance of the public-private sector partnership and its impact on developing the tourism sector and increasing its contribution to the economy. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, Minister of Hajj and Umrah, and Princess Haifa bin Saud, Deputy Minister of Tourism, also attended the meeting.
Al-Khatib talked about Saudi Arabia's recent tourism efforts, such as the transit visa, an electronic service that allows passengers stopping over in the Kingdom to obtain an entry visa. The transit visa for stopovers allows entry to Saudi Arabia for people in transit who wish to perform Umrah, visit the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah, and tour the Kingdom. Passengers can stay in the country for up to 96 hours, enabling more visitors than ever to explore Saudi's historical, cultural, and spiritual sites.
Abdullah Saleh Kamel, chairman of the Makkah Chamber of Commerce and president of the Islamic Chamber of Commerce, spoke about the challenges the tourism sector faces and the solutions for those. He added that Makkah is currently undergoing a number of development projects, such as the Makkah Buses project, which within a year of its trial launch attracted 25 million passengers. Kamel also stated that five major projects in the city will provide 108,000 hotel rooms with investments estimated at SR170 billion. All these services are expected to contribute to overcoming obstacles and meeting the increasing demand in Saudi Arabia.
The meeting concluded with Al-Khatib's emphasis on the importance of the public-private sector partnership, especially in developing the tourism sector, as it provides significant contributions to the Kingdom's economy.
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