The Mideast needs a louder voice in world tourism
The Gulf is rich in natural wonders, from the rugged mountains of Oman to the wild beauty of Saudi Arabia’s vast Rub Al-Khali, and is also home to a large slice of the world’s most important cultural and historical sites. Over the past two decades, our part of the world has experienced a period of exceptional development, with most economic sectors positively expanding. The effect of this growth has been positive overall, and one of the strongest performers has been the travel industry.
The sector is moving forward, with tourist arrivals worldwide forecast to hit 2.4 billion by 2027, generating $2.2 trillion of spending. Saudi Arabia is in a strong position to capture its share of the market, with the Middle East set to become the next focal point for global tourism.
The travel sector in the
Middle East is forecast to grow about 27 percent this year, slightly behind the global average of nearly 31 percent, following a 51 percent drop in 2020, according to the World Travel and
Tourism Council.
The Saudi Vision 2030 social and economic reform plan recognizes the role of tourism, targeting 100 million visitors by the end of this decade.
During the 48th meeting of the UNWTO
Regional Commission for the Middle East, the Red Sea Development Co. was appointed to the UNTWO’s board of affiliate members.
The UNWTO is responsible for promoting tourism as a key driver of economic growth and environmental sustainability. Membership allows countries in our region to make sure that the highest international standards and the best practices in tourist development are set in place, effectively using the tourism industry as a vehicle for social and economic growth.
The meeting offered a great opportunity to place a spotlight on the importance of the partnership between the UNWTO and the private sector to unlock the region’s potential and build a resilient and sustainable sector. We believe that the private sector can strongly contribute to the development of tourism in the Middle East. So, it is important to increase affiliate membership of the UNWTO with bodies from the Gulf region.
For us, the membership reinforces TRSDC’s continued focus on regeneration to help it achieve the highest international standards. Looking at the giga-projects we are responsible for — The Red
Sea and AMAALA — it is clear that a collaborative approach between the private and public sectors can have hugely positive results and set new standards as we work toward welcoming our first guests this time next year. The opening of the UNWTO regional office in Saudi Arabia may be an opportunity to increase the effectiveness of promotional strategies in the Middle East. We believe that both the current affiliate members from the region and the member states could support this effort.
We have natural and manmade wonders, we are renowned for our hospitality, and I am certain we have ambition and passion. I encourage you to use your collective voices to promote them.
The Saudi Vision 2030 social and economic reform plan recognizes the role of tourism, targeting 100 million visitors by the end of this decade.