Regardless of ongoing unrest within the Middle East, Saudi Arabia's tourism chief mentioned the dominion is "very secure" and he does not see the d
Regardless of ongoing unrest within the Middle East, Saudi Arabia’s tourism chief mentioned the dominion is “very secure” and he does not see the dysfunction impacting tourist arrivals.
“I am not apprehensive in any respect as a result of Saudi Arabia could be very secure,” Ahmad Al-Khatib, chairman of the Saudi Fee for Tourism and Nationwide Heritage, advised CNBC’s Hadley Gamble on Tuesday.
When requested about ballistic missiles from Yemen and doubtlessly Iran or Iraq which might be in vary of the nation, he mentioned he expects “issues will … settle and decelerate in Yemen” and the state of affairs will enhance.
“I do not see it impacting,” he mentioned. “If we have a look at the 1.6 billion travelers, I do not imagine greater than 10 % would really feel that Saudi Arabia is just not secure.”
He additionally mentioned he hasn’t heard of anybody deciding to not go to due to the instability within the area.
The dominion announced last September that it would be launching its first-ever tourist visas in a bid to spice up tourism. Earlier than then, overseas guests had been virtually solely non secular pilgrims.
Imaginative and prescient 2030 targets
Below Saudi Arabia’s Imaginative and prescient 2030 plan, the nation needs tourism to make up 10% of GDP, up from round 3%. It additionally has a goal of 100 million worldwide and home annual visits by 2030.
“We launched the e-Visa and we opened our hearts and doorways to the world final September,” Al-Khatib mentioned, talking to CNBC on the World Economic…