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/

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

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

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.

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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.

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

75 international hotels in the Kingdom soon - Saudi Gazette

RIYADH — International hotelier companies are expected to enter the Saudi market during the coming four years to build or operate about 75 hotels, a senior official of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTH) has said.

“The commission has paved the way for the arrival of these international companies through the organization and development of the hotel industry in the Kingdom,” said Salah Al-Bakheet Al-Talib, deputy chairman of the commission.

Local daily Al-Jazirah on Wednesday quoted Talib as saying that the entry of international hotel operators in the Kingdom would raise the quality of the market, enrich variety and expand available choices that would cater to the needs of tourists and visitors.

 He revealed that Schweppes, the famous hotel company, will enter the Kingdom with 40-50 hotels to be distributed among various regions. The company owns and operates major hotels in the world.

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75 international hotels in the Kingdom soon - Saudi Gazette

Halal tourism spending to reach $200b by 2020 - Saudi Gazette

 Halal tourism numbers are expected to hit 150 million in traveler’s volume and collectively spend an estimated $200 billion by 2020, revealed “Halal Travel 2016 report conducted by UK-based research firm Context Consulting and commissioned by Amadeus, and presented at Dubai’s Arabian Travel Market. 

The study gives an insight into the current needs and future expectations of this travel group whose importance is growing globally.

The Amadeus report on Halal travelers highlights three core themes that span the key drivers of travel: cultural experiences, accommodation needs, and activity preferences. These are the components of the themes.......

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http://saudigazette.com.sa/business/halal-tourism-spending-reach-200b-2020/

Saudi youth excited at recreation commission - Saudi Gazette

JEDDAH — Saudi youth took to social media to express their excitement at the royal decree for the establishment of the general commission for recreation.
Although the commission has not announced any plans yet, the youth have started suggesting ideas and proposing what they want.

Abeer, a Saudi woman, wished to have more playgrounds and more places for Saudi youth to practice their hobbies.

Nasser Algassabi said on twitter that entertainment is not luxury, it is a vital cultural project.

“It is not only consumers who were excited at the news. Artists, producers, directors and others working in the entertainment business are thrilled to finally have a platform which supports their work,” said a source.......

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http://saudigazette.com.sa/saudi-arabia/saudi-youth-excited-recreation-commission/

Post Umrah, pilgrims can now don tourist hats | Arab News

 IYADH: Post-Umrah program, a key part of ‘The Kingdom Is Destination of Muslims’ initiative, was launched on Sunday by Prince Sultan bin Salman, president of Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTNH).

He said the program aims at enabling Umrah performers to see the country’s landmarks, historical sites, tourist attractions and shopping centers.


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Post Umrah, pilgrims can now don tourist hats | Arab News

Riyadh Travel Expo - Saudi Gazette

ASAS Exhibitions — organizer of the annual Riyadh Travel Fair — has inaugurated the 2016 edition of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s biggest travel and tourism exhibition recently.

The Riyadh Travel Fair is held in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s capital at Al Faisaliah Tower, and was inaugurated by Omar Bahlaiwa, Secretary General of the Council of Saudi Chambers.

The annual event now in its eighth year is being held from April 12-15 with over 250 exhibitors from 55 different countries.

Bander’ Algryni, general manager ASAS Exhibitions, said: “The 2016 edition is largest Riyadh Travel Fair to date whereby 250 exhibitors from Tourism Boards, Airlines, Tour Operators and Hotels from 55 countries will have an opportunity to outreach Saudia Arabia’s tourism industry.



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Riyadh Travel Expo - Saudi Gazette

For expatriates, desert excursions a chance to explore Kingdom - Saudi Gazette

A large number of Western and Asian expatriates in the Kingdom regularly embark on desert expeditions during the winter and spring months to get a taste of desert life. Taking trips through domestic tour operators or as part of a private group, expatriates camp in desert areas often for days at a time as a means of escaping the hustle and bustle of city life in the serene desert lifestyle, Al-Riyadh daily reports.
David A., an Englishman who works in the Kingdom, said he fell in love with desert excursions and camping ever since he took his first desert trip with friends near Riyadh.

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For expatriates, desert excursions a chance to explore Kingdom - Saudi Gazette

KAEC’s world-class facilities put city as top weekend destination - Saudi Gazette

KAEC — King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC) is rapidly becoming the weekend destination of choice in Saudi Arabia, attracting more than 100,000 visitors last year. The popularity of the city as a short getaway location reflects growing demand in the Kingdom for new, family-oriented recreational experiences.
The city’s tourism offer is currently centered around the Bay La Sun district and the award-winning Bay La Sun Hotel and Marina, named the Kingdom’s Leading New Hotel at the 2015 World Travel Awards. The hotel, managed by the Al Khozama Group, was also named the Best Full Service Hotel in the Western District in 2015 by the online reservation site Booking.com, which bases its awards on visitor reviews.

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KAEC’s world-class facilities put city as top weekend destination - Saudi Gazette

Saudi female artist showcases sculpture at Jeddah corniche | Al Bawaba

As part of the Jeddah Sculpture Museum initiative, Art Jameel has, in partnership with the Jeddah municipality, installed artist Maha Mallouh's sculpture, entitled "Food for Thought" at the Jeddah corniche.
This is the first time a sculpture by a Saudi female artist has been installed in Jeddah.
The Jeddah Sculpture Museum initiative is an ongoing project involving the restoration of a number of sculptures along Jeddah's Central Corniche. Twenty of the sculptures were placed in the new Jeddah Sculptures Museum, which is located north of Al-Anani Mosque, and was inaugurated in March 2014 by Prince Mishaal bin Abdullah.

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Saudi female artist showcases sculpture at Jeddah corniche | Al Bawaba

Restoration work on ancient village of Al-Faw underway | Arab News

 The Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage and King Saud University has started restoration work on Al-Faw Village, one of the most significant archaeological sites in the Kingdom.
Qaryat Al-Faw, located in the foothills of the Tuwayq Mountains near the present day village of Wadi ad-Dawasir, 700 kilometers southwest of Riyadh, was an important commercial station linking the Arabian Gulf to the Levant. It became a religious, political and cultural center in the Arabian Peninsula and the capital of the Kindah Kingdom.


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Restoration work on ancient village of Al-Faw underway | Arab News

Four historic palaces to be turned into heritage centers, museums | Arab News

 The National Urban Heritage Center (NUHC) is restoring four historic palaces in order to transform them into cultural and heritage centers which, besides hosting events, will also house museums to exhibit local culture and heritage, and promote domestic tourism.

Given by their owners to the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage, the SCTNH will use these historic palaces after restoration to house local museums and will periodically host cultural and heritage events for tourism purposes, which will help the local population with jobs, an SCTNH official said Thursday.


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Four historic palaces to be turned into heritage centers, museums | Arab News

New academy to train youths for tourism jobs | Arab News

The Saudi Academy for Event, Conventions and Conferences will be launched in September this year to groom young talent for tourism sector jobs and the sector’s requirements.

This academy, which will be the first of its kind in the Middle East, will focus on the development of human resources in the Kingdom in order to become one of the key
supporting sources for the convention and exhibition sector.

 Prince Sultan said that the academy will be a Riyadh-based joint stock company. The National Center for Tourism Human Resources Development (Takamul) has contributed to its support and establishment.


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New academy to train youths for tourism jobs | Arab News

66 islands ready for tourism investment | Arab News

The Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTNH) has announced that 66 islands are now ready for investment. Rustom Al-Kubaisi, head of the SCTNH’s branch in Jazan, said these islands are not inhabited but services such as piers, restrooms and umbrella have now been set up on the three major islands — Farasan, Sajid and Muharraq.

 The official said that the tourism income from Farasan Island alone during the Hareed fishing festival and winter season is estimated at more than SR2 million, with thousands of people arriving from different parts of the world.

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66 islands ready for tourism investment | Arab News

81.9m travel through Saudi airports in 2015 - Saudi Gazette

The number of travelers through Saudi Arabia’s airports grew 9.5 percent to 81.9 million in 2015 compared to the previous year, the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), the Kingdom’s air transport regulator, announced recently.

Those travelers boarded 646,693 flights in 2015, an increase of 9.8 percent over 2014 (74.8 million travelers on 589,216 flights,) GACA added.

In its statistics report, the agency said that 30.1 million travelers went through Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz International Airport throughout last year, boarding and disembarking from 212,799 flights, an increase of 7.3 percent for travelers and 16.6 percent for flights from 2014.

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81.9m travel through Saudi airports in 2015 - Saudi Gazette