Tourism Commission, WTTC ink deal to make Saudi Arabia top tourist destination

The World Travel & Tourism Council [WTTC], the global body that represents the private sector of the travel & tourism industry, has announced a partnership with the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage to make Saudi Arabia a top five inbound destination, with 100 million international and domestic visits, by 2030, said a statement on Friday.

“The strategic partnership will harness the power and expertise of WTTC’s global membership, world class events and 30 years’ experience in research and strategic policy work to support Saudi Arabia’s ambitious goals and Vision 2030 plan,” the statement added.

According to WTTC’s annual economic impact research data, in 2018 travel & tourism directly accounted for 3 percent of Saudi Arabia’s GDP and supported 0.6 million jobs (5 percent of employment).

Saudi Arabia, with a thriving religious tourism sector, is already the largest travel & tourism economy in the Middle East, WTTC added.

“The potential for tourism in Saudi Arabia is limitless. It has a wealth of natural and cultural resources and especially the amazing hospitality of the Saudi people, as yet undiscovered by international, and even many national, travelers,” Gloria Guevara, President & CEO of WTTC said while speaking in Riyadh at the launch of Saudi’s new tourist visa policy on World Tourism Day.