Fahd Hamidaddin, CEO of the Saudi Tourism Authority, had each purpose to be pleased with his nation and his workforce on the simply concluded Arabian Journey Market in neighboring Dubai, UAE.
Final week, Saudi, the genuine residence of Arabia, celebrated its most important and profitable presence at a global commerce occasion on the 30th version of the Arabian Journey Market (ATM) 2023.
A hotbed of signed offers, industrial conferences, and distinctive cultural activations, the Saudi stand dominated this yr’s occasion, welcoming greater than 40,000 guests over the 4 days to expertise the sights, scents, and sounds of the world’s fastest-growing tourism vacation spot.
Saudi is turbocharging the tourism sector at a regional and world degree and introduced collectively the power, breadth, and depth of the nation’s tourism providing to ATM with 67 companions, showcasing greater than 500 bookable packages and experiences.
The companions on the stand had been the occasion’s heroes, highlighting the vacation spot’s range and bringing to life the tradition and great thing about the whole nation.
The stand was a world-class, sensory journey of discovery by way of Arabia, showcasing the nation’s wealthy tradition and heritage and that includes a variety of interactive, immersive experiences, from digital actuality headsets of Saudi’s non secular providing in Makkah and Madinah to dwell Arabic calligraphy and conventional dances from completely different provinces across the nation.
The occasion mirrored the nation’s inspiring transformation journey and celebrated partnership, collaboration, and dedication.
Visited by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Second Deputy Ruler of Dubai, the Saudi stand was a hive of economic exercise, exceeding targets by greater than 140 p.c and valued companions spanning tour operators, journey businesses, OTAs, and airways.
53 MoUs had been signed on the Saudi stand with key worldwide and regional companions, together with ODIGEO, Visa, Sabre Journey, Careem, Almosafer, Travelport, and FTI.
The partnerships signed centered on contributions past dedication to visits with extra of a long-term strategic focus, the event of experiences and DMCs, knowledge sharing and analytics, tech connectivity, and ambassador creation.
The vacation spot is delivering on its tourism ambition with initiatives together with The Pink Sea Mission, the world’s most bold, sustainable luxurious tourism growth, Diriyah, the 300-year-old mud metropolis and the birthplace of Saudi and Sindalah Island, NEOM’s incomparable island vacation spot.
The nation can also be residence to a various panorama that may be loved year-round, from the UNESCO-listed oasis of Al-Ahsa to the pristine coral reefs of Saudi’s 1,700km lengthy Pink Coastline, which will be loved by divers and cruise liners, and the place the primary of 16 luxurious lodges will probably be opening later this yr. Saudi additionally gives the cool, inexperienced highlands of Asir the place the locals vacation in the summertime.
Fahd Hamidaddin, CEO and Member of the Board at Saudi Tourism Authority mentioned:
“Saudi returned to ATM this yr, one of many world’s main journey trade occasions, to share the story of the nation’s transformation and development, to encourage and convert the commerce, and to cement the vacation spot’s place because the tourism powerhouse of the area.
“We noticed unprecedented success at ATM, a document variety of companions becoming a member of us on the stand, extra bookable packages and experiences showcased, targets exceeded when it comes to industrial engagements, and the biggest-ever dedication to companions by way of MoU signings and offers.
“Our success is determined by our companions’ success, and we proceed to develop commerce and client experiences to drive enterprise and development. Saudi represents a wealth of untapped alternatives for unparalleled development, and it’s our position to allow and empower our companions, to put money into a shared future.
“Saudi is witnessing development like no different, exceeding each Umrah and go to numbers within the first quarter of this yr, and with a pipeline of latest openings, experiences, and a dynamic occasions and leisure line-up, is a chance to not be missed.”
Nusuk, an built-in digital platform to facilitate seamless Umrah journeys, launched by Saudi Tourism Authority in September final yr, showcased a formidable presence for its first ATM participation, with greater than 20 companions on the stand.
The Saudi Tourism Authority (STA) CEO took half in a ted-talk model dialogue on the stand with companions Ross Veitch, CEO & Co-Founder, Wego , and David Loiseau, CEO of Assembly Level Worldwide, to debate how Saudi represents the largest alternative for enterprise in tourism and the collaborative surroundings that’s facilitating its success.
H.E. Fatima Al Sairafi, Minister of Tourism, Kingdom of Bahrain, Undersecretary, H. E. Abdulla Al Saleh, Authorities of UAE, and His Excellency Salem bin Mohammed Al Mahrooqi, Minister of Heritage and Tourism, Oman, joined Hamiddadin in a panel dialogue ‘The Way forward for Journey within the GCC’ to spotlight key alternatives for the area, specifically collaboration, innovation, and sustaining authenticity to conventional worth.
The panelists mentioned how, from visas to infrastructure, GCC nations may work hand in hand for all to profit from the tourism increase within the area.
Saudi continues to take pleasure in funding from big gamers within the trade, with greater than USD1 trillion of actual property and infrastructure initiatives beneath growth or within the pipeline within the nation, indicating robust confidence in Saudi tourism’s upward trajectory.
The place Exploration Occurs
The Saudi Tourism Authority (STA), launched in June 2020, is chargeable for advertising and marketing Saudi tourism locations worldwide and creating the vacation spot’s choices by way of applications, packages, and enterprise help.
Its mandate consists of creating the nation’s distinctive belongings and locations, internet hosting and collaborating in trade occasions, and selling Saudi’s vacation spot model regionally and abroad. STA operates 16 consultant places of work around the globe, serving 38 nations.
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