The Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) is on the right path to enhance domestic tourism in the Kingdom, said Salah Al-Bukhayyet, its vice president for investments.
“Saudis are renowned for their generosity. They are used to hosting visitors,” he said as he addressed the fifth annual Kingdom Hotel Expansion Summit, which opened yesterday at the InterContinental Hotel in Riyadh.
The official spoke on behalf of SCTA President Prince Sultan bin Salman. He said critical national goals and tourism development strategies are supporting domestic tourism, limiting the financial leakage of external tourism, developing tourist investments inside the Kingdom and accomplishing Saudization as a priority.
He revealed the extent of the progress the SCTA program made, now in its third year, in driving tourism across the country. The tourism sector in Saudi Arabia is expected to encompass an additional 38,000 housing units and 50,000 rooms over the next three to five years.
Organized by French deal facilitation group Naseba, the annual summit is the only platform bringing together stakeholders from the hospitality sector, including owners, operators, government authorities, designers, architects and global solution providers.
With almost 100 new properties under construction in Saudi Arabia, the largest in the GCC, ensuring sustainable growth is vital.
A key discussion outlined the macro-economic viewpoint of new developments in Saudi Arabia’s hotel sector. It featured expert panelists Yazan Al-Shouly, associate director for Acquisitions and Development at Starwood Hotels and Resorts, Ronald Egelman, director of development in the Middle East and Africa for the InterContinental Hotels Group and Khalid Anib, managing director of Hospitality at Al-Hokair Group.
All of them had first-hand expertise in investing, expanding and managing hotels.
The summit is timely given last week’s announcement by InterContinental Hotel Group (the largest international hotel group in the world) of an agreement with Dyafah Al-Mutahida LLC to open a 200-key Staybridge Suites property in Jeddah. This will be the first Staybridge Suites property, offering an extended stay experience in Saudi Arabia.
“Saudi Arabia is a strong market and perhaps unique in the world. With more than 100 new hotel projects being developed across the Kingdom, we are excited to have the support of the SCTA for this initiative, which aims to further drive the hospitality sector,” said Fabien Faure, Naseba’s managing director.
SCTA on right path to promote tourism
