Travel, Tourism & Hospitality
Saudi tourism to provide 260,000 jobs over next 3 years
Close to 260,000 jobs will become available in Saudi Arabia's tourism sector during the next three years as the kingdom is working on opening 38 tourist sites by 2022, said a report citing Minister of Tourism, Ahmed Bin Aqeel Al Khateeb.
Close to 260,000 jobs will become available in Saudi Arabia's tourism sector during the next three years as the kingdom is working on opening 38 tourist sites in seven tourist destinations by 2022, said a report citing Minister of Tourism, Ahmed Bin Aqeel Al Khateeb.
The disclosure was made during a remote meeting held with Saudi media leaders on the "Zoom" platform, which witnessed the launch of the "Saudi Summer" season, said a report in Saudi Gazette.
The Tourism Authority will work in coordination with the relevant authorities, to measure, develop and improve the tourist experience.
He said: "Tourism constitutes 10 per cent of the average total income of the world's economies. This sector constitutes 18 per cent of Spain’s income, for example, 16 per cent of France’s income, while it contributes 3.5 per cent of the income in the Kingdom’s economy. We look forward to raising the sector's contribution to 10 per cent by 2030."
The minister reviewed, in the virtual meeting, the number of employees currently working in jobs related to tourism, who number approximately 600,000, noting that "the ministry seeks to provide 260,000 job opportunities during the next three years. It also aims to provide one million job opportunities by 2030, to bring the total by then to about 1.6 million job opportunities", the report said.
The Kingdom aims through the tourism sector strategy to reach 100 million annual visits, from within the kingdom and abroad, by 2030 compared to 41 million visits at present, it said.