Saudi Travel and Tourism Investment Market (STTIM) this time was considered as the largest in its class since the inception of the event six years ago, and was a huge success in identifying ways to utilize tourism statistics for planning and investment, marketing tourism facilities and the development of eco-tourism trips.

"The six-day event successfully held important workshops and the discussions focused on the role of vocational and industrial tourism associations while reviewing the King Abdullah Project for Cultural Heritage Care, in addition to reviewing tourism indications in 2013, identifying proper ways for utilizing tourism statistics in the planning for investment and marketing tourism facilities, besides understanding better means for sales settlement in travel agencies and insurance of tourism activities, and facilities and the development of eco-tourism trips," an official of Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) said on Tuesday after the successful conclusion of STTIM 2014.

He added that STTIM 2014, throughout its six days, featured more than 35 workshops, training courses and lectures targeting stakeholders and the staff of the tourism sector, in addition to that of SCTA's branches and its partners.

These valuable sessions focused on a number of issues related to tourism industry, including potential impact of the new public transport projects on the development and stimulation of domestic tourism, reality and the future of investment in the tourism sector, entertainment and tourism, the role of youth in the development of the tourism sector, safety in accommodation facilities, and insurance of hotels and furnished apartments.

Also discussed were hotels and furnished apartments' participation in the e-reservation systems, proper means for developing the classification criteria, creating quantum leap in the hotel services, discussing right ways for hotels to attract exhibitions and conferences through adopting better standards and latest technologies as used in the facilities of convention and exhibition, the official informed.

The sessions also discussed the potential of utilizing social media sites (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) in order to reach the largest possible number of clients, besides marketing tourism destinations through utilizing the ‘Barcelona experience’ in using advertising films in marketing tourism destinations and facilities.

The official stated that the STTIM also focused on the e-reservation system as well as the proper ways for utilizing advertisement on the Internet for raising sales, appropriate ways for building and maintaining interactive, useful websites for tourism facilities, and discussing the impact of e-marketing on tourism facilities.

It highlighted the expertise of establishment of Wadi Rum (Rum valley), in addition to the designing of tourism programs that are held on the sidelines of the conventions and exhibitions, developing adventure tourism's programs, identifying mechanisms of event organization through reviewing the Qassim experience in marketing handicraft products and transforming the craft into an industry.

"The STTIM also shed light on the correct ways of rehabilitating private museums and preparing them for attracting largest possible number of tourists and how tourists can find proper programs for the weekends in addition to discussing investment opportunities for women in tourism," the official said.

He mentioned that this year's event was the largest in its class since the inception in 2008. "It was held over a 15,000 square meter area, with an addition of 4,000 square meters compared to the area in its last session," the official said.

Moreover, this year about 300 tourism bodies, companies and organizations, public and private, national and international, engaged in tourism, travel, and aviation took part, in addition to the participation of 14 tourism destinations.