Category Archives: Govt

The Events Investment Fund (EIF) launched by His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, under the National Development Fund (NDF)  announced the development of the Riyadh Shooting Range & Entertainment Complex, its first landmark project at an investment exceeding SAR 491 million (over US$ 131 million). The announcement was made at the inaugural TOURISE Summit in Riyadh, the world’s premier platform for shaping the future of global tourism. Situated just 40 minutes from Riyadh, the state-of-the-art Riyadh Shooting Range & Entertainment Complex is located within Qiddiya City, the new global destination built entirely around the Power of Play. Located on a 457,000 sqm site, it will feature a world-class Shooting Sport venue that complies with International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) standards. It will host international and national events and provide both professional and amateur shooting training facilities, with professional and commercial ranges for pistol, rifle, and shotgun disciplines. The venue is designed with the capability to host national and international shooting events, including Asian Games, World Cups, Grand Prix and Olympic events, and is fully supported by the Saudi Shooting Federation (SSF). The Entertainment Complex will also comprise a wide range of experiences for corporate events and families, including paintball, airsoft, laser tag, and virtual shooting. The facility is anticipated to create more than 2,300 jobs and attract over 400,000 visitors annually. EIF’s Chief Executive Officer, Wahdan Suliman Alkadi said: “The Riyadh Shooting Range marks a major milestone in the journey of the Events Investment Fund and is our first landmark project, built to Qiddiya City’s international standards. This development reflects our commitment to creating world-class venues that enhance …

The 12th Sharjah International Travel and Tourism Forum (SITTF) officially commenced under the theme ” New Waves of Tourism Spectrum.” His Excellency Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman of SCTDA in his opening speech emphasized that the tourism and travel sector is one of the most influential economic industries globally. Quoting the UN Tourism’s World Tourism Barometer report, he highlighted a 5% growth in global tourism during the first half of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, despite existing challenges. Additionally, he noted that international tourist arrivals reached approximately 690 million between January and June 2025, representing an increase of 33 million from the previous year. Organized by the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) and in strategic partnership with the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq). The opening ceremony was attended by His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Saud Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Sharjah Finance Department, alongside a host of prominent figures, officials, and representatives from government and private entities in the tourism sector, as well as members of the media. The event began with the UAE national anthem, followed by a visual presentation outlining the forum’s objectives and key session themes. His Excellency Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman of SCTDA, then delivered the opening speech, welcoming the forum’s participants and attendees. The event features global experts, creative industry leaders, and policymakers to discuss and explore the latest trends in global tourism and how modern technologies can be harnessed to improve visitor experience and promote sustainability in the industry. Al Midfa stated that Sharjah continues to advance in digital transformation and sustainable innovation within the tourism sector, aided by visionary leadership that prioritized infrastructure development and the …

Saudi Arabia hosted the inaugural edition of TOURISE bringing together over 50 tourism ministers, private investors, and NGOs from around the world. The event aims to create a platform where governments, private businesses, and organisations can collaborate on the future of global tourism. Saudi Minister of Tourism HE Ahmed Al Khateeb said the idea for TOURISE came from the need for a venue where regulators and investors can meet, plan, and build together. “The public sector regulates the industry, and the private sector invests and operates. We found no place where both could collaborate effectively and that’s why TOURISE was created,” he said He highlighted that tourism is more than travel, it includes airlines, airports, accommodations, mobility, food and beverage, and technology supporting the sector. “We found a gap,” he said, “a place where the public and private sectors can meet, invest, and innovate together. The conference comes as the tourism industry faces a projected global job gap of 40 million by 2034, with 357 million people currently employed worldwide. Saudi Arabia alone plans over $200 billion in tourism investments over the next five years, developing destinations like Neom, Red Sea, Iddiya, Dera’iya, and Jeddah. Speaking about technology and AI, he emphasised that while AI can digitalise services, human-to-human interactions remain essential. Al Khateeb stressed the sector’s potential for creating jobs for women and youth, particularly in smaller nations, cities, countries and islands. He encouraged private sector leaders to propose solutions for sustainable growth and employment.

Under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Riyadh is set to host the inaugural edition of the TOURISE Summit (TOURISE 2025), organized by the Ministry of Tourism from November 11 to 13. TOURISE aims to shape the future of global tourism, fostering its growth and sustainability. It brings together leading figures from key sectors that intersect with tourism, such as technology, aviation, entertainment, education, sustainability, and media. Discussions will seek to develop innovative, actionable solutions that enable the tourism industry to address future challenges and thrive over the next five decades. Minister of Tourism and Chairman of TOURISE Ahmed Al-Khateeb expressed his profound gratitude to HRH the Crown Prince for his generous patronage, which, he noted, expands the event’s reach and influence. He emphasized that this patronage reflects HRH the Crown Prince’s unwavering support for the tourism sector as part of Saudi Vision 2030. He noted that “work is progressing on all fronts to empower our vital sector, which continues to demonstrate its readiness and competitiveness day after day.” He underscored that Saudi Arabia ranked first among G20 countries in international tourist arrivals for 2024 and led globally in growth of tourism revenues from inbound visitors. TOURISE 2025 will feature a dynamic agenda of discussions, panels, and interactive experiences built around four key axes: addressing challenges, seizing growth opportunities, stimulating major investments, and shaping future policies. Sessions will also explore the rapid transformations shaping the tourism sector, including artificial intelligence in tourism, bold investment models, innovative travel experiences, and sustainable tourism that balances people and the planet. (Spa)

The 26th session of the UN Tourism General Assembly opened in Riyadh, marking a historic first for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region and the largest Assembly since UN Tourism was founded 50 years ago. Around 160 delegations from member states including ministers, senior officials, and leaders from across industry and civil society are coming together to celebrate five decades of international collaboration under the theme “AI-Powered Tourism: Redefining the Future.” The Assembly is hosted by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Tourism, with extensive cooperation and planning alongside UN Tourism and a wide range of partners. This collaboration underscores the Kingdom’s dedication to advancing the industry and facilitating impactful dialogue on the global stage. For half a century, UN Tourism has advanced economic opportunity, cross-cultural understanding, and peace through travel. With the sector’s rapid digital transformation reshaping how people discover, book, and experience destinations, this year’s Assembly focuses on ensuring AI serves people and places supporting jobs, small businesses, destination stewardship, and the Sustainable Development Goals. Over the coming days, delegates will participate in four plenary sessions, numerous meetings of seven specialized committees, and the 124th and 125th sessions of the Executive Council – the organization’s highest executive body. The agenda is designed to foster discussions on how artificial intelligence and digital transformation can accelerate sustainable, inclusive growth and deepen international cooperation in tourism. His Excellency Ahmed Al Khateeb, Minister of Tourism, said: “Saudi Arabia is proud to welcome the world to the 26th UN Tourism General Assembly as we celebrate 50 years of UN Tourism’s global cooperation and shared progress. This week marks a defining moment for our industry — a chance to shape how tourism grows in the decades …

The Emirates Tourism Council held its fourth meeting of 2025, chaired by H.E. Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism. The Council discussed the completion of the “Tourism Data Update” project in collaboration with the relevant federal and local entities. The project aims to establish a comprehensive national platform for tourism data, ensuring accuracy and transparency in measuring performance indicators. The platform will facilitate seamless sharing of data among all relevant entities. Participants reviewed a range of new tourism projects scheduled for implementation in 2026 as part of efforts to enhance the sector’s growth and competitiveness. Participants also followed up on the progress of recommendations and outcomes from the previous meeting. H.E. Bin Touq affirmed that the UAE has placed significant focus on developing the tourism sector as a key pillar of national economic growth. The country has implemented sustainable policies, strategies and projects in this vital sector, offering outstanding and unique tourism experiences for visitors from around the world and achieving major milestones that have reinforced the UAE’s leadership among regional and global destinations. The meeting was attended by the heads and directors general of the country’s local tourism entities, alongside representatives from the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre. H.E. said: “The Council’s new tourism projects and initiatives represent a significant milestone in enhancing the growth and competitiveness of the tourism sector. They support our national efforts to highlight the diversity of tourism, develop comprehensive tourism offerings, and establish a state-of-the-art digital infrastructure for tourism data in the UAE, in line with international best practices. They also contribute to strengthening the UAE’s position as the world’s best tourism destination and building a sustainable tourism sector, in …

Ministers gathered at WTM London 2025 shared their views on how smarter, more inclusive investment models can help destinations to share more widely the benefits of travel and tourism. The 19th edition of WTM London’s Ministers’ Summit, in association with UN Tourism and WTTC, offered examples of how the public and private sectors are working together to fund the opportunities and mediate the challenges of growing travel and tourism markets. Many destinations are using tax breaks and other incentives to drive tourism development. Christina Frasco from the Philippines talked about how it was offering fiscal incentives and opening new economic zones for tourism that champion sustainability, green innovation and job creation. She also talked about accelerating the role of the private sector, which includes the government’s plans to privatise many of its airports. Similarly, Kenya is using tax incentives and economic zones to encourage private investors to build up tourism along its 500km of coastline. Rebecca Miano added that the government was working on air connectivity and finding ways to encourage airlines to add Kenya to their network. Increasing air capacity is also a priority for Costa Rica as it looks to address a drop in visitor from the United States. It is marketing strongly in Europe and looking to add more direct flights from the continent. Tax breaks are also being used by Ecuador as part of its strategy to promote the mainland to visitors to the Galapagos Islands. It has recently allowed the private sector to help manage conservation zones and offers incentives to tourism investors which show a commitment to rural tourism and to working with indigenous people. Elsewhere, airports emerged as an immediate way to engage …

The Ministry of Tourism Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, led by Minister Hon. Ahmed Al-Khateeb, has approved new policies and regulations to register workers and localise activities across all licensed tourism facilities in the Kingdom. The move aims to strengthen the contribution of Saudi nationals to the tourism sector, create new employment opportunities, and enhance overall service quality in line with Saudi Vision 2030. Under the new regulations, all employees at tourism establishments, including hotels, resorts, and tour operators must be registered with the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development’s systems before commencing work. Contracts, whether contractual, seconded, or seasonal, are to be documented via the Ajeer platform or other approved systems. Facilities with multiple branches must ensure employee records are linked to the correct licensed location. The policies also mandate that all tourism hospitality facilities have a Saudi receptionist on duty during working hours and prohibit outsourcing positions subject to Saudization decisions to entities or workers outside the Kingdom. Compliance will be strictly monitored, with penalties applied for violations in coordination with relevant government agencies. These measures are expected to empower national talent, improve service standards, and reinforce Saudi Arabia’s reputation as a world-class tourism destination.

The Jazan Municipality is actively implementing various development and recreational projects in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. These include the maintenance and rehabilitation of 556 municipal and tourism facilities, encompassing 16 waterfronts, 235 public parks, 115 walkways, and 190 sports grounds. As Saudi Arabia journeys towards its Vision 2030, these efforts aim to showcase the region’s natural beauty while enhancing its appeal to tourists. The municipality emphasized that these projects are designed to create modern recreational spaces that meet the needs and aspirations of both residents and visitors, support tourism growth, and improve the urban environment, aligning with the objectives of the Quality of Life Program, a key initiative under Saudi Vision 2030 according to SPA. Jazan Region boasts a unique natural landscape, stretching from its serene coastlines to lush mountain peaks, making it a vibrant destination rich in tourism and development potential.

Oman’s tourism activity offerings highlight the country’s strongest assets: a rich local cultural heritage and an extraordinary variety of landscapes, as shown by an analysis carried out by Mabrian, the global travel intelligence and tourism advisory partner. The study indicates that cultural experiences remain a central pillar of the offer, yet nature and active lifestyle activities together now surpass culture as the main source of discovery and enjoyment for travellers exploring the Sultanate. Mabrian, part of The Data Appeal Company – Almawave Group, examined supply and demand trends for experiences marketed through major online activity platforms across Oman’s 8 regions, using data from August and September 2025. “Our data intelligence shows clear opportunities to broaden Oman’s tourism offer around experiences beyond its cultural core, a particular yet relevant element of its tourism value proposition. Strengthening nature and active experiences in underrepresented regions, and making more family-oriented products available online, can help the country reach new segments and extend visitor stays,” says Sonia Huerta, Director of Insights & Tourism Advisory at Mabrian, and supervisor for this in-depth analysis. Mabrian’s data reveals that 37% of all activities and experiences available in Oman are concentrated in cultural tourism, linked to local heritage and monuments. This is followed by nature (28%) and active tourism (17%), which combined account for 45% of total activities offerings in the Sultanate. In terms of sub-products, the top three categories are local heritage, natural landscapes, and active tourism by the sea. Family-oriented activities still hold a limited share of the total portfolio, suggesting an opportunity to expand and reinforce segmented offerings specialised in this segment ,or better highlight existing options suitable for families with children of different ages. In terms …