Saudi’s tourism industry is currently passing through a transitional stage following the approval of the cabinet to reform the sector, said a top Saudi tourism official.

Secretary general of Higher Tourism Commission Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdul-Aziz was speaking at an open meeting with tourism investors held on the fringes of the first Saudi Travel and Tourism Investment Market (STTIM) in Riyadh.

During the meeting, Prince Sultan bin Salman stressed on the importance of tourism in contemporary economies, noting that the contribution of the tourism sector to the national economy amounts to approximately 8.8 per cent of the Kingdom’s gross national product (GNP).

According to recent studies, 2007 exceeded expectations for international tourism with arrivals reaching new record figures close to 900 million and supporting more than 220 million jobs.

The Middle East region totaled 46 million international tourist arrivals last year. The region, he said, was emerging as a strong destination with visitor numbers climbing much faster than the world total, with Saudi Arabia and Egypt among the leading destinations in growth in 2007.

“Tourism sector is of great importance to Saudi Arabia. I see the future of the tourism sector in the Kingdom as bright and promising, and the opportunity to create jobs is enormous. According to our records, the industry is expected to create between 1.5 and 2.3 million job opportunities by the year 2020,” he added.

He indicated that the commission is introducing new initiatives and plans to attract investment to this sector.

The official0 also advised investors to focus on local tourism industries because 'it is fruitful and profitable,' arguing for the need to promote tourism culture among Saudis and to combine the economic benefit generated from the tourism sector with the Arab heritage and values. – TradeArabia News Service