The Saudi tourism industry has never been the center of attention for government funding, this opportunity came across as the government is gearing toward diversification enacted by its Saudi Vision 2030 in 2016.
Of course Saudi Arabia is home of huge oil deposit where the country is making fortune from the oil revenue since the last decades. But we’re not discussing on to that, instead, this article focuses on the current strategy of the government in promoting Saudi tourism industry as part of their diversification plan.
SAUDI is home to endemic species and geographical beauty
Despite of its arid climate, Saudi Arabia is blessed with natural resources and unique beauty that may not be seen anywhere in the world. The country has vast land area covering around eight percent of the Asian continent.
Saudi Arabia has unique geography and climate allowing its flora and fauna to flourish. In fact, there are more than 2,000 species of flowering plants, of which 246 are endemic to the region. Saudi Arabia is also home to more 70 mammals, 444 bird species, endemic freshwater fish species, reptiles, amphibians and many other living organism inhibiting the country’s various ecosystem from sand dunes, arid woodlands, forests, and its fertile marine ecology.
Aside from this natural diversity the country is also a home to many historical wonders and religious artifacts, attracting millions of people visiting every year, not only for religious pilgrimage, but a chance to glance the miraculous geographical beauty designed by the Creator Himself. Some of the Saudi Arabia’s wonders include:
Jabal Alqara Caves
Jabal Al Qarah Caves also hailed as Judas cave a tourist attraction in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia because of its natural beauty featuring the unique mushroom-like rock formations and the fascinating caves’ tall and linear passages and narrow canyons. Jabal Al Qarah is an outlier of Shedgum Plateau characterized by an alternation of small plateaus and near-vertical cliffs. Jabal Al Qarah Caves is is located in a small village called Al Qarah (where the name came from) at the city of Al Hofuf, Al Hasah Province, Saudi Arabia. It is approximately 10 kilometer (km) East of Al Hofuf city center, 140 km Southwest of Dammam and 300 km East of Riyadh.
For more information read: Al Qarah Caves: Amazing narrow canyons and nature’s fascinating views
Alula’s Madain Saleh
Al-ula is now increasingly become a point of destination because of its archeological significance and unusual geological formations. One of the major attractions is the Madain Saleh, also called Al-Hijr or Hegra, believed to be the old settlement for Prophet Muhammad while en-route to engage Byzantine forces at the Battle of Tabuk. In the early 1200s, the area became a major hub in the region where up to now traces of Lihyanite (Ancient North Arabian Kingdom) and Roman occupation are seen and preserved. In fact in 2008, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) declared Madain Saleh as patrimony and becoming the Saudi Arabia’s first world heritage site.
Government Attention
With the increasing trend of visits to the country every year, the government perceived the demand to develop more destinations and capture the emerging opportunities in tourism industry in the country. In fact in 2014, the Saudi government through Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) announced the approval of tourist visa issuance to support and strengthen the country’s tourism market.
According to SCTA, the volume of investment in Saudi tourism and travel market was increased to up to 170 billion (SAR) in 2014. Seventy billion of which was generated from domestic tourism and 100 billion from inbound tourism including pilgrims.
The agency also explained that domestic tourism alone has seen a remarkable growth, as reflected in the volume of spending in the sector, surging from 50 Billion SAR in 2010 to more than 100 Billion SAR in 2014. Meanwhile, it is also important to note, that because of the lack of tourist destinations inside the country, Saudi nationals spend billions abroad during holidays and vacations.
SAUDI ARABIA’s Vision 2030
With this many exciting development, the Saudi government also rolled out its vision 2030 and the tourism industry is one of its major pillars. SAUDI ARABIA’s Vision 2030 is a development program toward making the country a strategic global gateway connecting the world’s major continents, Asia, Europe and Africa in business and development, activating all sectors to align and become stakeholder in fulfilling the said vision.
For the Saudi tourism industry, the government is encouraging the key players and small businesses to create destinations, such as museums, new tourist destinations, historical sites, cultural venues, and other recreational activities, to make the country more hospitable and attractive not only to tourists but especially to pilgrims making their visits more remarkable and exciting.
Saudi Seasons Festivals
With the intention to activate local businesses the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTH) launched Saudi Seasons Festival. Saudi Seasons Festivals will feature the regional tourism highlights covering cultural, sports, entertainment related activities and business events. The Saudi Seasons 2019 program includes: Eastern Region Season; Ramadan Season; Eid Al Fitr Season; Jeddah Season; Ta’if Season; Eid Al Adha Season; The National Day Season; Riyadh Season; Diriyah Season; Al-`Ula Season; and Ha’il Season.
Qiddiya Entertainment City
Qiddiya Entertainment City is a new mega development in Saudi Arabia aimed to become the capital of the country’s entertainment, sports, culture and arts. As planned Qiddiya will feature more than 300 recreational and educational facilities. This entertainment city development will evolved around the project’s five cornerstones: Parks & Attractions, Sports and Wellness, Motion and Mobility, Culture and Sports, as well as Nature and Environment, where great outdoors and adventure activities will be featured. Qiddiya first phase of development will be completed by 2022.
In a statement to Saudi Press Agency (SPA), Dr. Fahd bin Abdullah Tounsi, Secretary General of the Foundation Council of Qiddiya Project of the Public Investment Fund (PIF), “the inauguration of this vital project is a real translation of the aspirations of the wise leadership in the Kingdom and its relentless efforts to develop mega projects that would contribute effectively, to achieve many direct and indirect economic returns, and to advance sustainable development for the benefit of the kingdom and the citizen in accordance with the sectors identified priorities by the Kingdom Vision 2030.
