Wednesday, October 4, 2023
Zurab Pololikashvili, Secretary-General of the United Nations World Tourism Organization, declared Saudi Arabia to be a “must-see destination” this weekend in Riyadh during the World Tourism Day opening ceremony.
“This is a country that always looks forward, and in big ways,” he continued. “Saudi Arabia is now the second-biggest place for foreign direct investment projects in all the Middle East and Africa. I’m proud to say we count on the support of Saudi Arabia.”
Since 1980, the UNWTO has observed World Tourism Day in September. Every year, world leaders gather to discuss goals and benchmarks that will help the tourism industry grow. This year was no exception, as about 500 senior officials from 145 nations met at the Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh to discuss the most recent advancements in the sector with an emphasis on sustainability, humanity, and prosperity.
“This World Tourism Day, we focus on the vital need to invest in building a more sustainable sector for people, planet and prosperity,” said Pololikashvili.
“The day also makes clear why UNWTO underscores the need for investment in education and for greater innovation as the foundations for long-term growth and transformation.”
As officials praised the nation for its vision and discussed concerns of climate change, governance, and empowering people throughout the world, the kingdom’s burgeoning tourism sector was also examined.
This year, Saudi Arabia will preside over the UNWTO Executive Council as the organization’s first Middle East regional headquarters is located in Riyadh. The 116th session of the UNWTO Executive Council was also held in Saudi Arabia the previous year, with an emphasis on promoting sustainability on all fronts, from governance to funding for infrastructure and youth.
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) said that although it was an industry that was greatly impacted by the epidemic, tourism accounted for one in ten employments globally. But ever since it let leisure travelers inside its borders, Saudi Arabia has experienced unheard-of development.
“Since embarking on our tourism journey, Saudi Arabia has been committed to enhancing the sector and generating an impact that extends beyond borders,” said Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al Khateeb.
The Saudi Tourism Authority’s CEO, Fahd Hamidaddin, stated that the nation is blessed to experience a growth like no other.
“The last seven months have seen a record-breaking growth for Saudi Arabia. We are experiencing an economic revolution … and all of this is a manifestation of a new leadership,” he said.
According to Arnold Donald, chairman of WTTC, the value of the tourism industry in Saudi Arabia is predicted to reach $93.4 billion in 2023. He said that it accounts for 10% of Saudi Arabia’s GDP and that they anticipate it to expand at the quickest rate in the Middle East.
The nation aspires to host more than 100 million tourists per year by the year 2030.The Ministry of Tourism forecast earlier this month that the industry will create one million new employments over the next ten years.
Al Khateeb also announced details of the ambitious, over $1 billion project known as the Riyadh School for Tourism and Hospitality at the ceremony.
“The Riyadh School of Tourism and Hospitality is Saudi Arabia’s gift to the world,” he said. “Through its pioneering curriculum, that will offer comprehensive higher education courses covering all aspects of the tourism and hospitality industry, the school represents Saudi Arabia’s commitment to providing comprehensive, progressive education that empowers individuals, both domestically and internationally.
“As we invest in the next generation of tourism professionals, we are not only securing the industry’s future, but also fostering a legacy of excellence that will drive prosperity, stimulate individual growth of citizens and foster cultural exchange for years to come.”
The $500 billion megacity Neom in Tabuk, northwestern Saudi Arabia, will be the country’s first zero-carbon city, with 95% of the construction left intact for environment and conservation.Neom will also be powered exclusively by sustainable energy, with no carbon-emitting cars, marking a significant milestone in Saudi Arabia’s transition away from an oil-based economy.
In other news, Red Sea Global is pioneering regenerative tourism with its Red Sea initiative, which is located on Saudi Arabia’s western coast, with the goal of preserving the kingdom’s pristine and undisturbed seas, coast, and coral reefs.
Hotels in the country have also joined forces with the Saudi Vision 2030 to lead and construct with the most environmentally friendly methods.
Guests are paying more attention than ever to how a hotel impacts the world around it, with an increasing number booking a stay based on a property’s carbon footprint and how it supports the communities in which it operates, according to Haitham Mattar, managing director at IHG Hotels & Resorts, which currently operates 40 hotels in Saudi Arabia.
Tags: saudi arabia, UNWTO
Saturday, April 27, 2024
