Historic sites under tourism spotlight
Saudi Arabia aims to achieve an economically enriching diversity and maintain cultural authenticity of the land
Some of Saudi Arabia’s most historic sites on Sunday went under the media spotlight as part of a drive to boost tourism.
Journalists were taken on a cultural and heritage tour of key locations aimed at showcasing the Najd region of the Kingdom as a top visitor destination.
The Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTH) organized the trip, concentrated around the old towns of Shaqra and Ushaiger, to coincide with the Colors of Saudi Arabia forum that aims to strengthen national tourism.
Places visited by the group of journalists and writers included Al-Halawa Museum Market, Al-Subaie House, the Husseini Mosque, the House of Mashreq and the heritage village of Ishiqar. They also went to a desert camp, watched cultural shows and ate locally produced cuisine.
Abdulrahman Al-Manee, whose Al-Halawa Museum Market shop was visited by the group, told Arab News: “Collecting antiques and cultural pieces has been my hobby for more than 50 years.”
He graduated from the fine arts school at King Saud University, and has a website where he sells his products throughout the Kingdom and other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.
The SCTH presented a workshop for media professionals during the tour. Majid Al-Hasna, director of media relations at the SCTH, said it is keen to organize more trips for journalists to the Kingdom’s archaeological, historical, heritage and tourism sites.
Since its inception, the SCTH acts as a stimulation center, works in close partnership with relevant partners to achieve the vision and mission of tourism sector in the Kingdom. It acts as a primary booster for sustainable tourism development in line with the Islamic principles and social, cultural and environmental values prevailing in the Kingdom.
Earlier this month, the SCTH organized a presentation about the Kingdom’s drive to attract more Muslim visitors.
“Destination for Muslims” is part of the Vision 2030 reform plan and aims to make the Kingdom the preferred destination for followers of the faith around the world.
The SCTH was taking part in a workshop in Madinah organized by Taibah University to develop programs to increase the stay of visitors to the city.
Other participants came from the education, service and private sectors. The Kingdom is investing in tourism, aiming to increase spending by Saudis at home instead of on holidays abroad.
The commission is committed to facilitate successful and sustainable development of the tourism industry by providing a clear direction for the industry, and working in close partnership with industry leaders and partners to find and create a climate in which the tourism industry is expected to achieve a high degree of self-sufficiency.
The commission plans to strengthen the capacity of the sector for the protection of monuments and museums, prospecting exploration and studies, recording monuments and effects, developing of museums and architectural heritage, increasing knowledge of cultural heritage effectively through the Department of Antiquities and Museums, create cultural resources to be developed and presented to the community for promoting cultural tourism, and stimulate private sector investment in the projects of monuments and museums.
Saudi Arabia wants to achieve through tourism, an economically and socially enriching diversity, generate employment for its citizens and maintain environmental and cultural authenticity of the land. This task depends on the active participation between the public and private sectors.