Domestic tourism needs big investment

Domestic tourism cannot take off without gaining adequate financial support from the government and Saudi investors, Prince Sultan bin Salman, president of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities SCTA), said yesterday.
“Without this support, there will be shortages in services being provided to citizens who want to spend their vacation inside the Kingdom,” Prince Sultan said while presiding over the SCTA’s board meeting in Riyadh.
He said 42 tourism festivals would be staged in different parts of the Kingdom during this summer. “The festivals are expected to create 4,500 jobs, attract 10 million visitors and generate SR 10 billion,” he added.
According to a report by the Tourism Information and Research Center (MAS), there will be a 10 percent increase this year in incoming tourist flights compared to last summer, adding that they would carry 4.8 million tourists. Domestic tourism spending this year will reach SR 10.5 billion, 18 percent more than last year’s SR 8.9 billion.
The prince said there is need for greater cooperation between the SCTA and its partners to make the summer festivals a success. “We should also monitor services being provided by hotels and restaurants, as well as tourist resorts,” he said.
Prince Sultan stressed the need to take into account the complaints made by citizens regarding prices and services at tourist centers.
He thanked the Cabinet for taking a number of decisions in recent months to boost domestic tourism, including the introduction of a national program for conferences and exhibitions.
“This decision will have a big impact on regional economies,” he said, adding that it would also create more jobs for Saudis and accelerate economic growth. The new program would come into effect in three months.
He said the Cabinet decision to improve the services being provided along the expressways would also boost tourism. “We expect speedy efforts from the committee chaired by the minister of municipal and rural affairs to implement this project,” he said.