<As part of Vision 2030, the Kingdom plans to invest $810 billion in the tourism sector, receive 100 million international and domestic visitors, and create one million new job opportunities in tourism, Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khatib said, noting that good progress has been made in these endeavors. This came during the conclusion of the Saudi delegation's participation in the 24th session of the General Assembly of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), after achieving several achievements aimed at strengthening the Kingdom's leading role in the field of tourism.

The Saudi delegation concluded its participation in the 24th session of the General Assembly of the UNWTO.

Kingdom hosts World Tourism Day

<“Despite the Kingdom's relatively recent presence on the international tourism scene, it plays a major global role in this field,” said Ahmed Al-Khatib, Minister of Tourism, stressing that the Kingdom has great tourism ambitions and seeks to make this sector one of the largest sectors contributing to economic transformation. He listed a number of achievements that the Saudi delegation succeeded in achieving during its recent participation in Madrid: “This week, we achieved great success and received the support of a new task force to prepare tourism for the future, revive the World Tourism Organization, and ratify the creative office

World media praises Saudi tourism

<On the sidelines of the General Assembly meeting, the Minister of Tourism met with major Spanish media outlets and spoke to journalists about the Kingdom's achievements and the vital role of tourism around the world today, while journalists expressed their support for the Kingdom's efforts to strengthen the World Tourism Organization. The Spanish newspaper "El Mundo“ commented on the Kingdom's recent moves in the World Tourism Organization, saying that Saudi Arabia has succeeded in occupying an unprecedented position in the organization's General Assembly, praising Saudi efforts to develop the global tourism system.

The Spanish newspaper ”El Mundo" commented on the Kingdom's recent moves in the World Tourism Organization.

Hilton hotels in Saudi Arabia jump to 75

The Minister of Tourism met with Hilton Worldwide CEO Chris Nassetta to discuss Hilton Worldwide's presence in the Kingdom and expansion plans to support Vision 2030. Hilton Worldwide announced its commitment to expand 600 percent in Saudi Arabia from its current 15 hotels to 75 over the next five years, supporting the targets of Vision 2030 and creating more than 10,000 new jobs as part of its ambitious expansion across the Kingdom.

Minister of Tourism met with Hilton Worldwide CEO Chris Nassetta to discuss the group's presence in the Kingdom and its expansion plans to support Vision 2030.

Expanding choices for tourists

“Hilton's commitment today to new hotels demonstrates their confidence in Saudi Arabia's progress and successes as we continue to develop the tourism system, reach an ambitious goal of welcoming 100 million visitors by 2030, and increase tourism's contribution to the Kingdom's GDP from 3.5 percent to 10 percent.”

Minister Ahmed Al-Khatib said, “Hilton's commitment today to new hotels demonstrates their confidence in Saudi Arabia's progress and successes as we continue to develop the tourism system and reach an ambitious goal of welcoming 100 million visitors by 2030. ”Working with world-leading hospitality and tourism companies such as Hilton to expand the range and size of options available to tourists is a key part of the Ministry's plans, and it is also part of our working philosophy to revitalize the tourism sector locally and globally through partnership with the private sector, and today, by the grace of God, we are making great progress in this."

He added.

Tourism and Hospitality Skills Training

Statistics indicate that in the first half, the tourism sector witnessed the training of more than 14,860 Saudi men and women who have already been trained in new skills in the field of tourism and hospitality, and the ministry is working to realize the Kingdom's plans to add and develop 854,000 hotel rooms with 70% funding from the private sector, and the Kingdom has issued more than 400,000 electronic visas, and briefly became the fastest growing tourist destination in the world before the Corona epidemic.

The Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality is working on realizing the Kingdom's plans to add and develop 854,000 hotel rooms with 70% funding from the private sector.