Saudi tourism sector to hit $64bn by 2019

GROWING INDUSTRY: The Hajj pilgrimage draws millions of religious tourists to Saudi every year.

Saudi Arabia’s tourism revenues could reach $64bn by 2019, according to a high-ranking official.

The Kingdom’s tourism market is currently generating around $14bn in annual revenues, according to Mohammed Al-Hussaini, deputy general manager at the Riyadh Exhibition Company.

However, at the opening of the five-day Saudi Travel and Tourism Investment Market, he told the Saudi Gazette that the country’s inbound tourism has increased 11 percent over the past two years.

“As the largest economy in the Middle East, Saudi Arabia has the necessary resources to expand travel and tourism as major income generators,” he told the newspaper.

“Several tourism development opportunities are available in cities such as Al-Wajh, Assir, Al-Qassim, and in Hail,” he added. “One of the government’s priorities is to increase the regional and global visibility of the Kingdom’s tourism and hospitality offerings.”

Print | Email | Discuss this article

| Share |

READERS' COMMENTS

Saudi tourism growth
Posted by Leigh Vernier, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Tuesday 9 February 2010 at 10:50 UAE time


There are key factors holding back Saudi tourism growth.

There are no packaged, costed, defined tourism products to 'sell'... and there is no marketing and sales infrastructure.

In terms of infrastructure, many travel agents in the Kingdom are utterly inadequate. No product knowledge. Poor service.
Travel agencies need regulating with a formal education/training systems using adapted but existing software.

There are no tour operators to offer defined, 'packaged'products at attractive inclusive prices.
Again, tour operators are not being trained or regulated.

These two deficiencies add up to there being no tourism 'supermarkets'the Saudi travellor can visit - no products on the shelves.

To get what I mean - take a look at the Emirates tour operator brochure.
It offers packages all over the world.
Although their tour operator retail outlet is lacking in in-depth knowledge and some training it is better than nothing.

As a travel expert who has been in Saudi for 16 years it saddens me that little is being done to create the essential tourism infrastructure.

Click here to post a comment

Add your Comment All posts are sent to the administrator for review and are published only after approval. ArabianBusiness.com reserves the right to remove any comment at any time for any reason. Please keep your responses appropriate and on topic. Arabian Business would like to point out that only comments relevant to the story will be published. Any containing personal insults or inappropriate language will not be approved.
Name *
Remember me on this computer
Email *	(Your email address will not be published)
City
Country
Subject *
Comment *
Notify me of further comments
Enter the words above *
Please click post only once - your comment will not be published immediately.

MORE FROM ARABIANBUSINESS.COM