RIYADH: When one considered winter vacation locations, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was not often the primary place that sprang to thoughts. However with a packed schedule of occasions lined up within the tourism and leisure calendar this season, that seems set to vary.
The Saudi Tourism Authority is holding a groundbreaking 17,000 occasions, making the Kingdom one of many world’s most taking place winter locations. From “Winter at Tantora” in AlUla to folklore festivals, Saudi Arabia is quick rising as an unlikely favourite.
Only a few years in the past, picnics on the corniche or gatherings within the desert have been the top of winter leisure in Saudi Arabia. This winter, nevertheless, vacationers are arriving from all corners of the globe, drawn by the breadth of actions now on provide.
“Tourism in Saudi Arabia goes from power to power, taking part in a pivotal function in diversifying our financial system via the creation of quite a few job alternatives and supporting the non-public sector,” Abdullah Al-Dakhil, spokesperson and company communications director on the Saudi Tourism Authority, instructed Arab Information.
“We’re quickly advancing in the direction of our Imaginative and prescient 2030 targets, with the help of the tourism ecosystem, now aiming for 150 million visits by 2030.”
The previous yr has been marked by a number of notable achievements. The Saudi Central Financial institution lately reported that customer spending exceeded SR 100 billion ($26.6 billion) within the first three quarters of 2023.
Furthermore, the UN World Tourism Group acknowledged the Kingdom because the world’s second-fastest-growing tourism vacation spot for the primary quarter of final yr.
Vacationer numbers in Saudi Arabia noticed a 142 % surge within the first half of 2023, with 14.2 million guests touring to the Kingdom and a 132 % improve in spending by inbound vacationers throughout that very same interval, registered at SR 86.9 billion.
The Kingdom’s Nationwide Tourism Technique had initially set a goal of 100 million vacationers yearly by 2030. Nonetheless, Ahmed Al-Khateeb, the Saudi minister of tourism, introduced in October that this ambition had been revised as much as 150 million.
Within the first seven months of 2023, Saudi Arabia obtained 17 million worldwide guests with a view to accepting 30 million by yr’s finish.
This might mark a big leap seeing as there have been simply 4.14 million inbound vacationers in 2020, in accordance with the Ministry of Tourism. Compared, France, the world’s most visited nation, obtained roughly 117 million inbound guests in 2020.
“The Saudi Tourism Authority is dedicated to fostering development in collaboration with our companions, showcasing Saudi’s distinctive and diverse sights, together with our dynamic winter season with an array of family-friendly actions, and our seven UNESCO World Heritage websites, equivalent to Hegra Archaeological Website in AlUla, Historic Jeddah, and Turaif District in Diriyah,” stated Al-Dakhil.
“Waiting for 2024, Saudi will develop into extra accessible with new flight routes, extra resort lodging, and our enhanced e-visa system. We’re excited to welcome new guests from across the globe.”
Superstar guests, together with Will Smith, Johnny Depp, Sofia Vergara, Alicia Keys, and Andrew Garfield, have already made visits to the Kingdom.
Jeddah’s Al-Balad has at all times been a beautiful historic vacation spot. Now a brand new calendar of cultural occasions has rejuvenated curiosity. Within the coming months, it can host the Balad Al-Fann initiative and Voices of Al-Balad.
Over in Riyadh, the Diriyah E-Prix takes place on the finish of January adopted by the Saudi Cup — the Kingdom’s prized equestrian occasion — in February. 4
Riyadh can be host to the Center East’s first Disney Citadel, that includes 5 zones and dwell musical exhibits, an immersive life-sized Monopoly board, digital actuality gaming at Metaworld, a singular expertise for soccer followers at CR7 Signature Museum, and a fusion of artwork and delicacies at Layali Diriyah.
On the Crimson Coastline, in the meantime, the opening of the Kingdom’s new Crimson Sea Worldwide Airport in September has seen a flurry of reservations on the area’s new St. Regis Crimson Sea Resort, Nujuma Ritz Carlton Reserve, and Six Senses Southern Dunes.
Within the Kingdom’s northwest, AlUla’s enjoyable getaway retreats and music festivals have already solidified its standing as a year-round must-visit vacation spot, however the AlUla Arts Pageant in February shall be a specific draw.
Guests also can loosen up underneath fascinating evening skies till March 9 with stargazing at Gharameel or search a thrill in a scorching air balloon with unforgettable views of the area on the AlUla Skies Pageant from April 10 to 17.
AlUla, included within the Conde Nast Traveler checklist “Seven Wonders of the World for 2023,” boasts a number of the Kingdom’s oldest historic monuments, together with Jabal AlFil (Elephant Rock), Hegra (beforehand named Madaen Saleh), and Dadan and Lihyan.
Guests also can catch a singular musical expertise at AlUla’s awe-inspiring Maraya Live performance Corridor, an edifice coated in 9,740 mirrors, permitting it to mix seamlessly into the encompassing panorama, or stroll into AlUla’s revived Previous City, which nonetheless accommodates remnants of authentic stone and dirt brick buildings.
The Kingdom was not at all times brimming with so many leisure choices. Because the Saudi Tourism Authority’s institution in 2020, the Kingdom has undergone an incredible transformation, serving to to drive the area’s post-pandemic tourism restoration.
Vacationer arrivals in Saudi Arabia virtually reached pre-pandemic ranges within the first quarter of 2023, in accordance with a report by HSBC World Analysis.
Beforehand, overseas tourism to Saudi Arabia was restricted to particular tour events and pilgrims. That was till the Kingdom opened its doorways to leisure tourism in 2019 with the introduction of a brand new e-visa. Since then, the trade has develop into one in every of its key financial drivers.
“Within the Twenties, the world got here to Saudi for oil, however within the 2020s, we’re anticipating the individuals of the world to come back for tourism. That’s why we are saying that tourism is the brand new oil,” Fahd Hamidaddin, CEO of the Saudi Tourism Authority, stated in a current interview with The Nationwide.
Its progress has not gone unnoticed. Saudi Arabia was deemed an trade game-changer within the World Journey Market 2023 yearbook.
Final yr, Saudi Arabia was the official host of World Tourism Day, a world day established by the UNWTO to have a good time the facility of the sector in bridging cultures.
And there are nonetheless a number of tasks which can be but to come back to fruition that may proceed to revolutionize the occasions, leisure, and tourism sector.
Sindalah, the Saudi dream island, will develop into a world yachting vacation spot, whereas the mega-project NEOM has unveiled Norlana, an ultra-modern energetic way of life neighborhood within the northwest of the Kingdom.
Additionally on the horizon is the Kingdom’s first ski resort in Trojena, which can host the primary winter sporting occasion held in an Arab nation.
Saudi Arabia has additionally received the bid to host the AFC Asian Cup in 2027 and its bid to host World Expo 2030. All eyes at the moment are on whether or not the Kingdom will rating a hat trick and win its bid to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup.
“In only a few years, Saudi has rapidly risen to develop into the world’s most enjoyable new vacation spot, offering the most important alternatives in tourism right this moment,” Hamidaddin stated in a current interview with WTM.
This fast growth is right down to the Saudi authorities’s numerous efforts to develop the Kingdom’s leisure, leisure, and tourism sectors and to remodel it into a world hub for guests.
Constructing upon the 2019 e-visa, which allowed 63 nationalities to go to the area, the Gulf Cooperation Council residents visa was introduced in 2022, adopted by the stop-over visa in 2023, which grants a complimentary one-night resort keep when reserving via the nationwide provider, SAUDIA.
This might be adopted in 2024 with a GCC-wide visa, permitting vacationers to go to Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE all on the identical visa.
Final yr additionally noticed the launch of the Rethink Summer season marketing campaign and a return go to by Saudi tourism ambassador Lionel Messi alongside his household.
It additionally noticed the expansion of collaborations with worldwide entities, a Saudi Tourism Authority roadshow in India, the signing of a memorandum of understanding with the Journey.com Group, and the internet hosting of a two-week Saudi Tradition Exhibition in Paris.
Saudi Arabia is at the moment the most important tourism investor on this planet with investments anticipated to succeed in $800 billion by 2030. An extra $550 billion shall be devoted to creating vacationer locations.
As vacationers think about their choices for a last-minute winter getaway, many will little doubt be making Saudi Arabia their first selection.
