SAUDI ARABIA. The Saudi Red Sea Authority (SRSA) has set down a goal to attract 19 million tourists annually to the Kingdom’s Red Sea coast by 2030.
The aim was stated in a new report released in collaboration with the Saudi Ministry of Investment, titled Invest in Coastal Tourism. The publication highlights the crucial role of coastal tourism in driving the goals of the Saudi Vision 2030.
The report outlines the tourism sector’s contributions to diversifying the national economy, attracting investments, generating new income sources and creating employment opportunities.
It further emphasises the importance of protecting the marine environment to ensure its sustainability for future generations.
SRSA said it aims to develop a thriving coastal tourism sector in the Red Sea, contributing approximately SAR85 billion (US$22.64 billion) to GDP by 2030. The goals include capturing 30% of the Kingdom’s leisure tourism and 40% of total entertainment spending, attracting 19 million tourists, and generating more than 210,000 jobs.
This effort aligns with SRSA’s mandates, which include encouraging investment in navigational and marine tourism activities while offering administrative, technical and advisory support to all investors.
The SRSA added it plans to promote these activities to enhance the coastal tourism sector and position the Red Sea as a compelling global destination.
In other significant news from the Kingdom’s tourism sector this week, Zawya reported the Saudi Arabia Tourism Development Fund (TDF) is planning to invest a further SAR7.5 billion (US$2 billion) in new tourism projects.
This is in addition to the SAR2.6 billion ($693 million) TDF has already invested in tourism projects in the Kingdom since it was launched more than four years ago. ✈
