Tourism Needs SR80b

RIYADH, 25 February 2003 — Investment in the tourism sector is expected to reach SR80 billion in the next 20 years, Al-Jazirah daily reported recently, quoting a high-level source at the Supreme Commission for Tourism. The industry requires a major investment effort from the private sector, which includes providing 50,000 hotel rooms and 74,000 housing units, in addition to training for between 1.5 and 2.3 million Saudis, the paper said.