The travel and tourism sector in Saudi Arabia has been one of the most active users of the internet as a strategic marketing tool to drive business growth, taking advantage of the record penetration in the kingdom.

Recent statistics have shown that the number of internet users in Saudi has now risen to over 9.8 million.

Also the internet penetration levels in the Kingdom have now reached 38 per cent, with 54 per cent of the online population reported to be very active internet users compared to just 43 per cent and 42 per cent in the UK and US, respectively.

Accordingly, several corporations, government institutions as well as small and medium enterprises in Saudi are  increasingly integrating online and social media tools in their marketing strategies.

Developing interactive corporate websites, in particular, remains an effective way of engaging target audiences online as websites serve as an easily accessible and versatile platform to disseminate information, introduce new products and services and maintain an open communication line with the public.

Mahmoud Mokhtar, the chief operating officer of Abdul Latif Jameel Real Estate Investment Company, said: "We greatly value the importance of online marketing, especially with the rapidly increasing internet penetration in the country and the growing popularity of online social media."

"Demonstrating the power of online marketing, we have received very positive feedback following the recent launch of a user-friendly portal for ALJREIC’s hospitality brand, Anjum Hotels," revealed Mokhtar.

"As our flagship hotel, Anjum gears up for launch in Makkah, the portal offers an exclusive glimpse into the hotel's key amenities and facilities including the different rooms and suites, dining facilities, the Azad floors, special services, the Manasek Desk as well as the Kids World," he added.

According to him, the newly-launched portal of Anjum Hotels also serves as a handy tool to provide information about new construction milestones of the Jabal Al Kaaba project as a whole and the latest corporate news.

"It will also feature job vacancies and allow users to submit job applications, complementing our recruitment program and allowing us to reach out to more potential candidates within Saudi and across the region," said Mokhtar.

"With the growing number of internet users in the country, there is certainly a much greater incentive for key players in the travel and tourism industry to invest in internet marketing as a tool to drive growth," he stated.

""The portal will soon provide a virtual tour of ‘Anjum Hotel’ and an online reservation facility closer to the opening date," said the official.
 
"Guests will be able to book online, as well as check and manage their bookings, or contact the hotel for further enquiries. It certainly serves as a great tool to assist travelers and guests and make their travel experience more comfortable," he added.-TradeArabia News Service