Saudi unveils Maldives inspired island tourism project on the Red Sea - Gulf Business

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Monday announced a major new international tourism project encompassing a 30,000 square kilometre stretch of islands, beaches and other attractions on the Red Sea.
The Maldives-inspired project will see the development of resorts on more than 50 natural islands between the cities of Umluj and Al-Wajh in partnership with major hotel operators.
It is also aiming to attract tourists with interest in culture, history and nature by highlighting the ruins of Madain Saleh, the kingdom’s first UNESCO Heritage Site, and a nature reserve with local flora and fauna......

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 http://gulfbusiness.com/saudi-unveils-maldives-inspired-island-tourism-project-red-sea/

The 10 best countries for travel and tourism in 2017

Gulf News: 10 countries with the best travel and tourism industries in 2017. http://google.com/newsstand/s/CBIw2qDK6DQ

Travel Fair

Arabnews: Riyadh Travel Fair opens with 270 exhibitors from 55 countries. http://google.com/newsstand/s/CBIwia7q5jQ

Six flags

Arabnews: Saudi Arabia’s largest cultural, sports and entertainment city announced. http://google.com/newsstand/s/CBIwoaiH5zQ

First Rider Champion

Arabnews: Jeddah hosts first Rider Champion and Fun Festival. http://google.com/newsstand/s/CBIwoZ2O5zQ

98% graduates from tourism institute get jobs - TVTC - Saudi Gazette

Dear TVTC students !

Listen and practice reading the article. I will add more reading material for you on this blog . Practice reading for 10 to 15 minutes everyday.  Reading every day will help improve your speaking and your writing skills .

Link to article:
http://saudigazette.com.sa/saudi-arabia/98-graduates-tourism-institute-get-jobs/

Makkah set to become a new hub for MICE tourism - Al Arabiya English

Backed by a growing number of modern facilities and government support, Makkah is set to become a new destination for the MICE tourism industry in Saudi Arabia, according to industry experts.

Traditionally seen as a site for religious travel, Makkah today is attracting a growing number of local companies and government authorities looking to combine their meeting and training requirements with Umrah pilgrimage.

Conrad Makkah Jabal Omar, the first Conrad property opened by Hilton in Saudi Arabia
earlier this year, has seen its MICE business grow steadily, driven by demand from pharmaceutical companies and government entities that tend to conduct their board and annual meetings, as well as training and development programs, over weekends in the holy city.......

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Makkah set to become a new hub for MICE tourism - Al Arabiya English

Publishers from 27 countries register for Jeddah book fair - Saudi Gazette

As many as 450 publishing houses from 27 countries have so far registered to participate in the second edition of the Jeddah International Book Fair, which will be held from Dec. 15 to 25 (Rabi Al-Awwal 16-26). ........

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Publishers from 27 countries register for Jeddah book fair - Saudi Gazette

Discover the World - Saudi Gazette

 “Traveling – it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller,” – Ibn Battuta once said. And it’s true. It can change people’s lives and more importantly, our perspective.

Traveling is the only way to open up your mind and learn about things books can’t teach
you. To wake up in an unknown town beginning to be explored, is one of the most thrilling joys in the world. Natural beauty tends to heighten your senses and magnify all human emotions. If you are ready for an unfamiliar excursion, read on.......

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Discover the World - Saudi Gazette

Al-Ula — Romancing a forgotten past | Arab News

    The oasis of Al-Ula was known in ancient history as the capital of two ancient Arab kingdoms — the Kingdom of Lihyan and the Kingdom of Dedan which preceded it. Dedan, an ancient name for Al-Ula, later gave way to the Lihyanite kingdom from the Lihyan tribe in that area. The Lihyanites had their own script which was one among many North Arabian oasis scripts.

Archaeological evidence indicates their influence extended to cities as far away as Tayma and Dedan (Al Ula). The Lihyanite dynasty ruled for around 200 years or more at Khuraybah which is one of the archaeological sites.

According to inscriptions found at Harran in modern-day Turkey, the last Babylonian king led a military campaign which conquered the three most important settlements of the region — Tayma, Dedan and Yathrib (Madinah) in about 552 BCE. The more recent
Islamic history is of especial interest to visitors to this area......

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Al-Ula — RomPublish Postancing a forgotten past | Arab News

6 Basic Lessons in Hospitality From Danny Meyer – Skift

Danny Meyer, the famed restauranteur behind beloved New York dining institutions such as Shake Shack, The Modern, Gramercy Tavern, and Union Square Café, has become a leader and a pioneer in the hospitality industry.

As CEO of Union Square Hospitality Group, which has more than a dozen restaurants, Meyer has spoken out about the “transforming power of hospitality in business” and in 2006, he even wrote a book about it, called Setting the Table. Most recently, he also became one of a handful of chefs to employ a no-tipping policy at his restaurants, which he is rolling out on a restaurant-by-restaurant basis.

And on Nov. 9, Meyer came to New York University’s Tisch Center for Hospitality and Tourism to speak about “Enlightened Hospitality: The Transforming Power of Putting People First.”

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6 Basic Lessons in Hospitality From Danny Meyer – Skift

Saudi Arabia forecasts tourism sector will generate one million jobs by 2020 | Al Bawaba

Statistical and survey studies conducted by the Tourism Information and Research Center of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTNH) showed that the tourism sector is one of the largest job-generating economic sectors.

It ranks second in terms of providing jobs to Saudis after the banking sector, according to a report in Aleqtisadiah, a sister publication of Arab News.

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Saudi Arabia forecasts tourism sector will generate one million jobs by 2020 | Al Bawaba

Calling all Asian food lovers to Jeddah hotel’s year-long festival | Arab News

   Asian food has numerous fans in Saudi Arabia as well as in other Arab countries. It was perhaps based on this popular demand that Mövenpick Hotel in Jeddah (main branch) organized a year round Asian food festival, which kicked off on Wednesday Oct. 26, 2016.

Hassan Hassanein, general manager at the hotel, said the main reason to bring
back the Asian food festival was due to numerous requests by customers and based on several market surveys. The Asian Barbecue Night festival was launched in the hotel’s renowned Panoramic View restaurant.

“Food tasting was conducted to ensure high quality and we guarantee it will meet our guests’ expectations,” he said....


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Calling all Asian food lovers to Jeddah hotel’s year-long festival | Arab News

Most helpful apps for students - Saudi Gazette

Most helpful apps for students - Saudi Gazette

Jeddah to host 3 int’l expos this month - Saudi Gazette

Jeddah to host 3 int’l expos this month - Saudi Gazette

Saudi Arabia seeks 8,000 tourist guides to grow sector - arabianbusiness.com

Saudi Arabia requires 8,000 new tourist guides by 2030 as it expands its tourism industry under plans to diversify the national economy, local media said.

Arab News attributed the estimated figure to Ahmed Al Jaid, a member of the Saudi Society for Tourist Guides (SSTG).

Al Jaid said there are currently 500 tourist guides in Saudi Arabia, however, 8,000 licensed guides, including mutawif (pilgrim) guides, are needed to help deliver the kingdom’s Vision 2030 economic diversification plans.

 He also said the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (NCTNH) and the SSTG provide courses for those working in the tourism sector to improve their skills.

read more........

8 spots in Jeddah you need to visit - stepfood

When the natives of this city say Jeddah Gheir (Jeddah is different), they’re not exaggerating.

Want to get a sense of the much touted Vision 2030? Go to Jeddah. It stands at the threshold of the future. It brims with cultural production and its locals are always ticking with new ideas.

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80% of hotel jobs in Makkah to be Saudized - ArabNews

MAKKAH — The Ministry of Labor and Social Development branch in Makkah province is set to Saudize 80 percent of jobs in the province’s hotels and tourist resorts by the end of 2016.

The plan is scheduled to be carried out in cooperation with the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTH) and Human Resources Development Fund (Hadaf), according to Abdullah Bin Muhammad Al-Olayyan, director of the Ministry of Labor and Social Development branch in Makkah province.

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http://saudigazette.com.sa/saudi-arabia/80-hotel-jobs-makkah-saudized/

Number of hotel rooms in Jeddah to double by 2018

JEDDAH — The ‘Jeddah Hotel Market Overview’ report by JLL prepared ahead of The Hotel Show Saudi Arabia 2016 opening today (May 17) revealed that the current supply of 8,600 rooms (Q1 2016) in the city will double – with another 8,600 rooms forecast to be added to the market by 2018.

With a total stock of 17,200 hotel rooms estimated by 2018, major projects in the Jeddah pipeline include: The Ritz Carlton, Jeddah; Radisson Blu Al Salamah; Movenpick City Star; Elaf Galleria and Assila Hotel & Residence by Rocco Forte......

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http://saudigazette.com.sa/business/number-hotel-rooms-jeddah-double-2018/

Scholarships and jobs set for Saudi tourism students

Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTNH) Chairman Prince Sultan bin Salman is introducing a new program in coordination with the minister of education. It will be administered through a parallel program targeting students in Saudi universities to develop scientific training routes and link them with colleges, investment and economic paths to generate employment opportunities.

At a recent meeting of the advisory board of the Faculty of Tourism and Antiquities at King Saud University, Prince Sultan stressed the importance of activating the role of the board to achieve the goal of providing employment opportunities for graduates of the college and to overcome any difficulties facing it.

Read more:
http://www.arabnews.com/news/scholarships-and-jobs-set-saudi-tourism-students