IPL ropes in Saudi Tourism Authority as official partner

Wednesday, February 15, 2023

The Indian Premier League (IPL) has inked a new sponsorship agreement with the Saudi Tourism Authority (STA).

Following this new deal, the company is set to serve as the new official partner of the prestigious T20 event.

An event was organised to commence this partnership in Mumbai which was attended by Jay Shah, Secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Rajeev Shukla, Vice President of the BCCI, and Ashish Shelar, Honorary Treasurer of the BCCI, as well as delegates from the Saudi Tourism Authority, such as Alhasan Aldabbagh, President of APAC.

Cricket is one of the most mainstream games worldwide.

Through this collaboration, STA hopes to leverage the two countries’ robust fan bases, inspire affinity, and promote awareness of Saudi as a leading destination for Indian travellers, particularly young people.

With more than half of its citizens under 30, India has a similar demographic profile to Saudi Arabia, which has 58 per cent of its population in the same age group.

As stated in the press release, as part of Saudi’s tourism strategy, India represents immense potential as it is expected to be Saudi’s largest tourism source market by 2030.

The partnership is a strong example of Saudi supporting the country’s Sports sector.

Saudi continues to strengthen its competitive advantage in the market, and it will look to welcome more than two million visitors from India this year.

Fahd Hamidaddin, CEO and Member of the Board at Saudi Tourism Authority, said, India and Saudi share a vibrant youth culture and sport is an ideal platform to engage and inspire young people.

Saudi is committed to supporting excellence in the world of sport and inspiring greater participation and improved quality of life among Saudi and global audiences alike.

Sport, like tourism, brings people together in harmony and fellowship, bridging cultures and sharing perspectives on the world around us. These values are central to Saudi culture and are championed by young people from all around the world.

Alhasan Aldabbagh, APAC President at Saudi Tourism Authority, said, as part of their global marketing strategy, the Indian subcontinent region is a key market for STA and they are continually enhancing ways in which they can excite tourists from these countries and welcome them to Saudi.

They are delighted to announce their partnership with IPL, because they know how important cricket is to their visitors from South Asia.

Rajeev Shukla, Vice President of Board of Control for Cricket in India, stated, that they are pleased to welcome Saudi Tourism Authority on board as an official sponsor for the 2023 edition of the IPL.

The IPL partnership is a powerful channel to engage with its vast audience and support Saudi Tourism Authority’s objective of creating brand awareness in India as well as among the fans from the entire cricketing world.

Ashish Shelar, Honorary Treasurer, of Board of Control for Cricket in India, commented, that their association with the Saudi Tourism Authority is a testament to the global appeal of the Indian Premier League.

As each season passes by, the league has been consistently registering an uptick in its global fan base, expanding its geographical footprint.

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