RIYADH: The ninth edition of the Saudi Travel and Tourism Investment Market (STTIM 2016), the most important event devoted to travel and tourism in the Kingdom, will open on March 27 at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center (RICEC).

The Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTNH), the main organizer, has completed its preparations to launch the week-long forum and associated scientific workshops and exhibitions to be held under the patronage of Riyadh Gov. Prince Faisal bin Bandar, who is also the president of the Provincial Tourism Development Council, and Prince Sultan bin Salman, president of the SCTNH.

Sessions will be held at the Ritz-Carlton hotel from 9:00 am to 4:00 p.m, while the RICEC will host workshops in the evening. The morning sessions are devoted for school students to visit the exhibitions of the STTIM 2016.

A senior SCTNH official said that the forum in its ninth year and is expected to draw a number of national and international experts and specialists from the tourism and travel sector to discuss issues related to the tourism industry in the Kingdom.

Hamad Al-Sheikh, head of the organizing committee of STTIM 2016, said that the scientific program will be devoted to the development of investments in the tourism sector, where a number of national and international experts will address the morning conference as keynote speakers.

Al-Sheikh disclosed that a number of prominent names will be participating in the mega event, including Ibrahim Osta, director of the Tourism Development Project at Chemonics, funded by USAID, and Robert Roland, a senior Adviser for the Tourism Network, famous public speaker Paul Anderson, who has over 30 years of international experience in the management of projects for railways, in addition to other well-known figures in the tourism sector.

He said that the organizing committee is expecting the participation of over 80 national and international speakers who will discuss ways to develop domestic tourism as well as to recognise successful experiences for the betterment of industry stakeholder investments.

STTIM 2016 will also touch on a number of themes in its technical sessions that include “the economic impact of national heritage”, “transport and roadside stations and their role in the tourism sector”, “successful international experiences in the development and management of modern cities” and other themes on investment and finance.

The evening sessions will discuss a number of issues related to investment in the tourism sector, including “tourism events and festivals”, “exhibitions, conferences and training”, “social media accounts”, “e-tourism marketing”, “tourism finance”, “hotels and furnished apartments services”, “media and tourism photography” and other important issues.

After huge successes in its previous years, the STTIM 2016 will enjoy the participation of more than 250 government bodies and 14 national tourism destinations

Saudi Arabia General Investment Authority (SAGIA), Al-Riyadh Development Authority (ADA) and the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) are also supporting the event.