Tourism in Saudi Arabia according to the Kingdom's vision 2030 AD
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has set a clear plan for economic development and diversification by launching the Vision 2030 project
As part of this plan, the Kingdom is placing a heavy emphasis on tourism and travel as part of its strategic objectives. The launch of the tourist visa to the Kingdom saw visitors flock from all over the world to explore Saudi Arabia’s ancient history, stunning landscapes, and generous hospitality.
Vision and tourism economy:
Developed as a way to diversify the economy, the Vision 2030 plan set an ambitious goal of increasing the contribution of the tourism industry to the country's GDP from 3.8% to 10%. In order to do so, the government is investing heavily in developing cultural, leisure and entertainment facilities as well as promoting the diverse attractions in the Kingdom.And Saudi Arabia is entering a whole new tourism landscape with the Saudi Vision 2030 initiatives. With a strong economic outlook, supportive government policies and a new e-Visa system, the country is fast becoming an attractive destination for international tourists according to the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), in 2018, added Travel and Tourism in Saudi Arabia 9% to the kingdom's total economy which is estimated at US$682.2 billion.
The leader's long-range vision:
It is the brainchild of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the Kingdom’s vision and projects, including the new city of Neom, which was named from a combination of the Greek word for “new” and the Arabic word for “future.” It is the focus of tourism plans in the Kingdom, and the city is expected to create hundreds of thousands of opportunities It attracts more than 500 billion dollars in investments, in addition to being a major center for tourism in the region, and His Highness has paid great attention to developing the tourism sector and making the Kingdom the pearl of global tourism in the Middle East and the world.
Tourism vision and infrastructure:
Saudi Arabia is opening its doors wide to international tourism in a bid to rebrand itself as a travel destination to rival Gulf neighbors such as the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. In addition to the e-visa system and the new city of NEOM, Saudi Arabia is investing in world-class infrastructure, including airports and railways, as well as developing luxury resorts and hotels.
vision projects:
As part of Saudi Vision 2030, the Kingdom has invested in many “mega projects” across the country, including the NEOM project, Amaala, the Red Sea project, Diriyah, Qiddiya and many others. The vision is built around three main axes which are a vibrant society, a thriving economy and an ambitious nation. To achieve a vibrant society, Saudi Arabia has defined its tourism aspirations to align with Vision 2030, which includes increasing the contribution of the tourism sector to the local economy, increasing the number of international visitors and boosting tourism across the Kingdom. WTTC expects the travel and tourism sector in Saudi Arabia to grow at a rate of 11% annually over the next decade, making it the fastest growing travel and tourism sector in the Middle East. The Kingdom expects that the total contribution of the sector will reach 635 billion Saudi riyals in 2032, which is approximately 17.1% of the economic gross domestic product, with a continuous focus on allocating resources to health, education and the development of basic services, in addition to continuing social support and benefits as part of the goals of Vision 2030. The Saudi government is working to promote a better quality of life and a diversified economy, and the General Authority of Civil Aviation in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia aims to invest more than $100 billion in the aviation sector, establish two major airports in Riyadh and Jeddah, and increase the number of destinations it serves from 100 to 250, in order to Enhancing passenger traffic across the Kingdom to 330 million passengers by 2030.
Conclusion:
The Vision 2030 plan is a bold and ambitious project that has the potential to revolutionize the tourism industry in Saudi Arabia. With a strong focus on diversification, respect for local culture and history, and a commitment to providing high quality services, the Kingdom is well positioned to become a global destination for discerning travelers.
SAR | Saudi Riyal
AED | United Arab Emirates Dirham
EUR | Euro
USD | United States Dollar
