Saudi Arabia is developing a $22 billion tourism industry under an ambitious plan that will create 1.6 million to 2.3 million jobs and raise the current annual number of visitors from 20.8 million to 44 million over a 20-year period.
"The current tourism industry which is worth $9.64 billion annually, is estimated to be of $22 billion in 20 years.
"At least 44 million tourists a year are expected to visit the kingdom within two decades, compared with 20.8 million in 2001," said Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, chairman, Supreme Commission for Tourism, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and first Arab to travel in space as part of the American Discovery space shuttle crew in 1985.
To be a self-sufficient industry within five years, Saudi Arabia plans to include the participation of its private and government sectors and inculcate the qualities of its Saudi citizens to further promote hospitality and tourism.
"The plans includes building an extra 50,000 hotel rooms over 10 years to add to the 95,000 already in the country. The industry will also need 74,000 more apartments over the next decade," said Prince Sultan.
"Some 38 tourism development areas and 175 designated tourist sites have been identified in Saudi Arabia. Each year, we draw 6.3 million visitors - mainly Muslims coming for pilgrimage to Makkah."
The kingdom targets local Saudi tourists, Umrah and Haj pilgrims, GCC and Arab nationals and foreign tourists. Fifty tourism development authorities will be developed within 20 years, with the government playing the role of regulator and facilitator rather than an investor and owner, explained Prince Sultan.
"The Kingdom's Council for Public Investment will work with the Supreme Commission for Tourism to generate funds for investment in tourism.
"Next year, we will issue a charter which will contain all regulations for tourism, including licences, tourist security and visas. We are also studying an e-visa system which will be launched soon," he added.
Prince Sultan stressed that Saudi Arabia is building an infrastructure that will cater for all the needs of visitors without contravening Islamic teachings.
Last year, Saudi Arabia approved a plan allowing Umrah pilgrims to travel across the kingdom rather than restricting them to the Holy cities of Makkah and Madinah.
"The country has culture, environmental tourism, health-based tourism, conferences, shopping, adventure tours.
"There is a variety of desert, including the vast Empty Quarter in the south, but the country has many mountains, lush, green cool, valleys and the extraordinary Red Sea beaches," he added.
Meanwhile, Dr Ali Al Ghabban, advisor and general supervisor of the Supreme Commission for Tourism, explained that the 30-day Umrah visa may be extended to 60 days to visit Makkah, Madinah and other parts of the kingdom.
Some 2.5 million visitors performed Umrah last year and some 220 licensed Saudi Umrah operators deal contractually with overseas travel agencies or tour operators.
Packages may be pre-booked prior to Umrah travel through an authorised overseas partner Umrah agency.
"Saudi Umrah operators process Umrah extension application paperwork after arrival of pilgrims through the Umrah IT network, Umrah Affairs Department at the Ministry of Haj or the Passport Office. Each city visit needs an independent application process."
Gulf News
