Saturday, March 9, 2024
Saudi celebrates at ITB Berlin: 100M tourists in 2023 & key partnerships, marking a historic surge in global tourism presence.
At the recent ITB Berlin travel fair, Saudi Arabia‘s tourism sector marked a historic achievement with the announcement of having welcomed over 100 million visitors in 2023, alongside forming significant new business alliances, indicating the industry’s remarkable expansion.
During the event, the Saudi Tourism Authority (STA) established over 15 new agreements, including pivotal partnerships with industry giants such as Trip.com Group, Flynas, and Eurowings, and initiated new cooperation with Visit Bahrain, Visit Oman, and Qatar Tourism. These ventures aim to propel the growth of Saudi’s tourism industry, driving it towards new heights of sustainable development and reinforcing its status as a premier destination on the global tourism map.
The Minister of Tourism and STA Chairman, His Excellency Ahmed bin Aqeel Al-Khatib, commended the Kingdom’s impressive engagement at this year’s ITB Berlin.
He said: “The 2024 Saudi pavilion showcased the bright future of tourism in our country in line with Saudi Vision 2030, along with the growth and evolution of Saudi’s tourism sector.
“Our participation in ITB has had a positive impact on enhancing Saudi’s position on the global tourism map – strengthening relationships and cooperation with key international partners and catalyzing joint work to achieve global sustainability in tourism.”
Fahd Hamidaddin CEO and Board Member of the Saudi Tourism Authority (STA):
“Saudi’s participation in ITB Berlin has been one of the most successful in our history and will help turbocharge the remarkable growth our thriving tourism sector has already seen.
“With more than 55 partners from the tourism ecosystem attending the show, we secured more than 15 new agreements that will increase our connectivity and ensure the world is aware of our dynamic and diverse destinations.
“Saudi’s growth so far is just the start of our story, a story which will be built on for years to come.”
A key highlight was the unveiling of a substantial partnership between STA and Trip.com Group, targeting the attraction of an additional 350,000 visitors to Saudi in the upcoming year. This collaboration represents STA’s most extensive global partnership, utilizing Trip.com Group’s vast network and technological prowess to introduce Saudi’s distinctive tourist attractions to a global audience.
In a strategic endeavor to enhance international visitor numbers, STA and Flynas announced a campaign that includes launching a new route from Jeddah to Berlin starting 1 September 2024, operating three flights weekly. This initiative is expected to significantly boost passenger numbers and facilitate easier access to Saudi’s rich cultural and historical sites.
Additionally, an agreement between the Saudi Air Connectivity Program and Eurowings will introduce two direct flights connecting Cologne and Berlin with Jeddah, slated to commence in October 2024.
STA is also expanding its partnerships within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), with new promotional efforts alongside Visit Bahrain, Visit Oman, and Qatar Tourism. These campaigns are designed to attract more international visitors to the region, showcasing the GCC’s diverse cultural, historical, and natural attractions and offering a comprehensive experience of Saudi Arabia and its neighboring countries.
Led by His Excellency Ahmed Al Khateeb and Her Highness Princess Haifa bint Muhammad, the Vice Minister of Tourism, the Saudi delegation, comprising over 55 members, made a significant impact at ITB Berlin. The Saudi stand attracted over 14,000 visitors and featured a vast array of bookable offerings from partners in Jeddah, AlUla, and the Red Sea area.
A special reception hosted by His Excellency Ahmed Al-Khateeb celebrated the milestone of exceeding 100 million tourists in 2023, bringing together global tourism leaders to discuss the future prospects and collaborative opportunities within Saudi’s thriving tourism sector.
The STA extends its gratitude to all partners for their role in the successful presentation at ITB Berlin 2024 and is optimistic about achieving its future goals and participating in the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai from 6-9 May 2024.
Sunday, April 28, 2024
Sunday, April 28, 2024
Sunday, April 28, 2024
