RIYADH, 8 June 2006 — Prince Sultan ibn Salman, secretary-general of the Supreme Commission for Tourism (SCT), signed yesterday a SR120-million contract to set up tourism colleges in Riyadh, Taif and Hofuf for grooming young Saudis for a career in the leisure industry.
Gerard Pelisson, co-president and founder of France’s Accor Group, one of the world’s largest lodging groups, signed the contract on behalf of his company for implementing the project.
Taif Governor Prince Fahd ibn Moammar, Ahsa Governor Prince Bader ibn Jalawi, Riyadh Mayor Prince Abdul Aziz ibn Ayyaf and Ali ibn Nasser Al-Ghafis, governor of the General Organization for Technical Education and Vocational Training (GOTEVOT) were present during the signing of the agreement.
Addressing a press conference after the signing ceremony, Prince Sultan said the tourism colleges in the three provinces would help train Saudis in all fields of the hospitality industry in collaboration with the Accor Group, which already runs several tourism academies in different parts of the world.
He announced that under SCT’s Yahala Project, a separate college of tourism and antiquities would be established for human resources development in the tourism sector. It will be operational from the next academic session.
The SCT has decided to issue tourist visas through licensed tour operators as part of its efforts to attract 1.5 million tourists annually by the year 2020, excluding the millions who come on Haj and Umrah pilgrimages.
Prince Sultan said the project was part of the SCT’s initiative to produce graduates in tourism so that they could replace expatriates in travel agencies and hotels.
The Taif governor said his province was a forerunner in tourism promotion, since many Saudis traditionally spend their summer vacations in the highland resort city. He pledged full support and cooperation in the success of the project.
Prince Bader announced that Ahsa was going ahead with its project for developing a coastal resort at Al-Uqair, which would provide recreational facilities to Saudis trying to escape from the summer heat of Riyadh.
Speaking on behalf of the Riyadh Municipality, Prince Abdul Aziz said the tourism college would be set up in the northern part of the capital. The municipality, he pointed out, had also geared up its tourism-promotion drive by organizing cultural programs and shopping festivals during Eid festivities. More programs would be unveiled in due course.
Later, speaking to Arab News, Gerard Pelisson said Accor’s tourism academy would help GOTEVOT set up courses in all departments of the hospitality industry, from the marketing of the tourism product, to the production of tourist literature, to courses in the food and beverage, laundry and other aspects of tourism. The course would be run in Arabic and English to prepare Saudis in dealing with foreign tourists. He said the Accor Group runs 15 tourism academies in different languages.
