LONDON, UK – The World Journey & Tourism Council (WTTC) commends Saudi Arabia on the announcement of its Tourism Funding Enablers Program (TIEP). This program will create a extra engaging funding panorama within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, making it simpler and less expensive for worldwide and native traders to do enterprise.
The Hospitality Funding Enablers Program, a key a part of TIEP, will diversify and improve Saudi Arabia’s providing by growing the provision of lodging throughout focused locations.
Scorching air balloons within the air at Winter at Tantora balloon pageant in AlUla.
Seven years forward of its goal, Saudi Arabia welcomed 100 million vacationers in 2023. At present, the nation is surging towards even higher heights and has set an much more bold intention of attracting 150 million vacationers by 2030.
Saudi Arabia has demonstrated outstanding resilience, reaching a 156% enhance in worldwide vacationer arrivals in 2023 in comparison with 2019.
Saudi marked the beginning of the world’s main journey present ITB Berlin yesterday with a significant occasion to rejoice the landmark achievement of reaching 100 million vacationers in 2023 – seven years forward of schedule.
Saudi has returned to ITB for the second yr operating with a delegation of greater than 55 companions led by His Excellency Ahmed Al-Khateeb, Minister of Tourism and Chairman of the Saudi Tourism Authority (STA) accompanied by wider Saudi tourism ecosystem leaders and key companions together with vacation spot administration corporations, motels, and airways.
Following on from the success of profitable “greatest exhibitor” finally yr’s present, His Excellency Al-Khateeb was joined by companions and guests this morning to inaugurate Saudi’s most immersive and energetic stand but that will probably be entrance and heart of its 2024 ITB presence.
All through the three-day present, Saudi will showcase and construct consciousness of its world-class year-round vacation spot choices to the European market, strengthen and set up new commerce partnerships, and rejoice the outstanding year-on-year development of its tourism sector.
It comes after Saudi introduced the historic milestone of welcoming greater than 100 million home and worldwide vacationers in 2023. This locations Saudi effectively forward of the unique 100 million goal set out beneath Imaginative and prescient 2030 and has accelerated progress in the direction of a brand new elevated goal of 150 million vacationers by 2030.
To mark the spectacular milestone that has additional cemented Saudi as a tourism powerhouse, His Excellency Al-Khateeb, will probably be internet hosting a celebratory reception convening world tourism leaders on the sideline of ITB to showcase the outstanding development and improvement of Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector later as we speak.
The occasion, titled Breaking Data, Constructing Bridges, will convey collectively leaders from the worldwide journey trade and distinguished friends and can additional highlight the distinctive collaborative alternatives that await exploration within the coronary heart of Arabia.
Talking on the milestone achievement, His Excellency Ahmed Al-Khateeb, Minister of Tourism and Chairman of the Saudi Tourism Authority, mentioned: “Saudi’s expanded participation this yr’s ITB Berlin displays our large development, as we rejoice a milestone of reaching over 100 million vacationers in 2023.
“This achievement is just not merely a quantity, however a testomony to our unwavering dedication, our potential to encourage funding commitments into the tourism sector, and the collaborations made throughout the Saudi tourism ecosystem as a complete, which has propelled us ahead as one of many world’s most dynamic locations.
“Our aim is to strengthen Saudi’s place among the many prime 10 nations within the G20 for tourism, because the premier selection for each vacationers and traders, a worldwide powerhouse for tourism.”
Saudi’s 2024 ITB stand will function a variety of experiences together with a full-size F1 automotive and digital driving simulation of the Jeddah Grand Prix circuit, a Saudi Professional League Museum that includes an array of soccer memorabilia, dwell performances of conventional Saudi dances, a Saudi Café and a date museum the place guests can attempt a number of Saudi dates and occasional pairings.
A document variety of Saudi companions will even be showcasing lots of of bookable merchandise for companions in locations reminiscent of Jeddah, AlUla, and the Crimson Sea.
STA will set up new relationships and construct on present world partnerships in the course of the commerce present and has already seen the announcement of a brand new route into Berlin from Flynas as we speak.
The route from Jeddah to Berlin launches in September, with three flights per week.
Fahd Hamidaddin, CEO and Board Member of the Saudi Tourism Authority mentioned: “Following on from the success of being named greatest exhibitor finally yr’s occasion, we’re delighted to be again at ITB with a fair greater and extra immersive stand.
“It’s a mirrored image of the significance of the European marketplace for Saudi as we speed up progress in the direction of our new elevated goal of 150 million vacationers by 2030. In 2023, Saudi welcome over 950k guests, marking a rise of 65% in comparison with 2022 ranges. The rise from Germany vacationers alone to Saudi was a 61% enhance in comparison with the earlier yr, exhibiting the developed urge for food for Saudi as a vacation spot.”
“At present’s development is simply the beginning of our story and our success to this point is the inspiration for tomorrow’s investments, so we stay up for constructing new partnerships, showcasing the wealth of alternatives in Saudi proper now and constructing information round our numerous and dynamic vacation spot.”
Saudi’s tourism sector has achieved a full restoration because the pandemic with a 56% development in worldwide arrivals in 2023 in comparison with 2019 – the best within the G20. The rise in 2023 was pushed by a 65% enhance in worldwide visits, with near 11 million extra inbound visits in comparison with 2022, from 16.6 million in 2022 to 27.4 million in 2023.
With an unwavering dedication to fostering collaborations with commerce companions, Saudi has poured over $800 billion into its burgeoning tourism trade. A staggering $500 billion has been particularly earmarked for the event of locations, paving the best way for greater than $6 trillion in funding alternatives in Saudi till 2030.
Over the previous 12 months, NEOM has additionally introduced a number of new locations together with arts and leisure vacation spot Utamo and most not too long ago Elanan – an unique wellness retreat on the Gulf of Aqaba shoreline.
The Crimson Sea resorts of Six Senses Southern Dunes and St Regis resorts additionally opened not too long ago, months forward of schedule.
Added to this, Diriyah has additional introduced its grasp plans to speculate $10 billion in renovations, with plans in progress for King Salman Boulevard and the Royal Diriyah Opera Home, demonstrating Saudi’s dedication to delivering on constructing the world’s most dynamic vacation spot.
Saudi is house to a bustling Winter Season and this yr will probably be internet hosting over 17,000 occasions, making it the world’s most taking place winter. Main occasions such because the F1 Grand Prix in Jeddah, Crimson Sea Movie Competition, MDLBEAST Competition, and Riyadh Season, which noticed over 12m guests in 2022.
