He said there are 1.14 million people working in the Kingdom's tourism sector. "We have signed agreements with 26 educational and training institutions to train the Saudis required for the sector," he added.

According to latest statistics received by Arab News, the tourism sector will offer up to 590,000 direct jobs by 2014.

The national project for tourism manpower development (Takamul) has also given a breakdown of new job opportunities in the sector.

The housing sector will create 93,000 jobs, restaurant and cafeteria sector 307,000, recreational centers 45,000, travel and tourism agencies 11,500 and the transport sector 133,000 jobs.

The report issued by the project highlighted the tourism sector's ability to accommodate a large number of Saudi job seekers in coming years. The tourism sector currently contributes 2.7 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP).

Speaking about Saudization of jobs in the tourism sector, the report said the restaurant and café sector accounted for 52 percent of the total, followed by transport (23 percent), housing (16 percent), recreation (8 percent) and travel and tourism (2 percent).