Saudi Arabia needs to develop its infrastructure for tourists

Friday, February 14, 2020

Saudi Arabia needs to develop its infrastructure for tourists, offering a variety of activities for them to embark on as the Kingdom seeks to become a leading global travel destination.

The Kingdom has made a lot of improvements in diversifying its economy by launching tourist visas allowing residents of 49 countries to get visas online or on arrival, said Nigel David, the regional director for the Middle East at the World Travel and Tourism Council.

David said that there needs to be a follow up to the campaign that was launched last year under the slogan “Where In The World”, featuring several shots of Saudi landmarks and natural wonders, leaving viewers guessing about them.

“There is a certain perception which the Kingdom needs to overcome; that it is just a destination for religious tourism and that it’s not a safe place to go. It is the opposite of all those things,” said David.

Even though there are challenges towards achieving Vision 2030’s aim of becoming a top five country in terms of international arrivals with 75 million international visitors and employing a million people directly in the tourism industry, the Kingdom has a “willingness and desire” in the for development.

Locations in Saudi Arabia like AlUla, NEOM, and the Red Sea are all being touted as potential tourist destinations, with many other areas of the country gearing up to attract visitors too.

“Saudi Arabia has this incredible culture and heritage and it’s a beautiful country. The people are amazing and it’s the perfect timing now to open their doors and hearts to the world to invite it in. My experience is that they are doing that and they are doing it very well,” David said.

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