Saudi Gazette

JEDDAH — Prince Abdullah Ibn Saud ibn Muhammad Al-Saud, the head of the tourism committee at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry and chairman of Jeddah Forum for Tourism and Entertainment (JFTE), called on governors of different Saudi regions to launch a development competition and a prize that aims at highlighting the different tourism capabilities that each region has.

Speaking at a press conference announcing JFTE, he said "we need team work to show the tourism capabilities in Jeddah." He added that the forum will highlight the roadmap for the entertainment industry. In addition the forum will shed light on the main challenges that face the tourism and entertainment Industry. Among the sessions are ones discussing the role of the media and social media in promoting tourism, the role of the municipality in developing the sector and the importance of transport on enhancing the sector. The forum will also have number of workshops for entrepreneurship and an exhibition.

Mohammad Al-Amri, general manager of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage, noted that tourism may provide 300,000 direct jobs and 800,000 jobs in other supporting sectors.

He explained that Umrah pilgrims from 65 countries may, after finishing their Umrah, join tourism organization offices and stay in the kingdom under particular conditions for one month. The countries include European countries, USA, Malaysian and Brunei. This, he said, aims at enhancing tourism. He added that they also provide investors with different supports, including investing in less developed areas. Asked if they seek to attract international investors, he noted that Saudi investors are investing outside the country and so they seek to increase Saudi investments for local capital to stay.

Ibrahim Al-Sini, dean of Tourism College at King Abdul Aziz University, told Saudi Gazette that they previously used to "beg" students to joint the tourism major. He added that they used to have only 30 but now they have more than 400 students and they only accept students with high grades. He explained that some students have decided to transfer from other majors like engineering and medical majors because they knew that the future is for the tourism sector. He also explained that they have proposed a strategic plan documentation for all tourism institutes and college to work towards the Saudi Vision 2030.

Hashim Al-Nimr, general supervisor of the entrepreneurship center at Jeddah University, highlighted the importance of supporting small and medium enterprises which he said are crucial for the development of the sector. He added "the Saudi Vision 2030 seeks to increase the contribution of the tourism sector from 5% to 20%. This is not achievable unless the SMEs are being supported. The forum will address the challenges and will allocate special workshops for entrepreneurship," added Al-Nimr.