‘Poor tourism infrastructure obstacle to tourism in KSA for now’

[FaujHistorian]

The important thing is to showcase the beauty that my first post in this thread illustrates. Totally unknown for many.

Look I am sharing this with you as an international tourist who has seen pretty much all major tourist hotspots around the world. Not 100% but close. Been to KSA and met some wonderful people there.

Showcasing may be important for KSA people themselves. Otherwise it is just like trying too hard to impress.

Believe men most of the international tourists want some place where they can walk around freely, where woman can put their hair down and me can relax without interruption.

Sun surf and good food.

That's it.

people are looking for freedom and not some big or old or big-old building.

Even if KSA focusing in moslem tourist the market is VERY VERY huge. With 1.6 billion moslem who automatically have kind of connection to the Hejaz (part of KSA) the prospect is endless. Recently I heard the rumour that KSA will limit umrah pilgrim visa to Indonesian to 500k only while in a year we have much more people enlist for umrah. I hope that rumour is not true because it will be another blow for us after hajj visa limitation.

1.6 billion do not have dispensable cash anywhere near the non-Muslim world of even half the size.

 

[al-Hasani]

Showcasing may be important for KSA people themselves. Otherwise it is just like trying too hard to impress.

Believe men most of the international tourists want some place where they can walk around freely, where woman can put their hair down and me can relax without interruption.

Sun surf and good food.

That's it.

people are looking for freedom and not some big or old or big-old building.

As a tourism destination you have to market yourself as an attractive destination. That is the most important thing. You have many beautiful countries and places that are not internationally known among tourists simply because they are equally bad when it comes to showcasing their own beauty. Unlike KSA those places do not have restrictive tourism laws though.

Well, this depends on the group of tourism that you are targeting. KSA has areas for every kind of tourist. The one wanting to lay on the beach all 2 weeks - KSA has a 3000 km long coastline, over 2000 km long tropical coastline in the Red Sea world famous for its coral reefs and beauty etc. Or people preferring mountains, deserts, steppes, history, modern city life, tropical areas etc.

Or Muslim pilgrims can combine the Hajj or Umrah with a subsequent 1 week holiday in the mountains, near the seas or in the deserts or what they prefer.

The problem is just to develop a tourism friendly environment in all those areas without hurting the fauna, the culture etc.

My point is that the basics are already there. You can always change the laws and make investments. People also change as we all know. KSA has the money for now and the will to focus on the tourism sector has also been shown recently. All that is very encouraging for a person like me that wants to see a open KSA. It would be a bigger problem if all those opportunities were not available in the first place.

 

[al-Hasani]

Festival spotlights Jeddah’s rich heritage

Makkah Gov. Prince Mishaal bin Abdullah and Prince Sultan bin Salman, head of the SCTA, open the Jeddah cultural festival

JEDDAH: FOUZIA KHAN

Published — Saturday 18 January 2014

Last update 18 January 2014 2:24 am

The 10-day Jeddah Heritage Festival has opened in Balad with colorful Hijazi dances, theater performances, folk songs, and artists providing talks on the city’s history going back 2,600 years.
Saleh Kamel, president of the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI), said the JCCI would invest SR100 million in small and medium enterprises in the area.
Makkah Gov. Prince Mishaal bin Abdullah and Prince Sultan bin Salman, head of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA), launched the event on Thursday.
Jeddah Mayor Hani Abu Ras, Saleh Kamel and several princes and dignitaries were also present.
The SCTA and the JCCI organized the event with the support of Prince Mishaal.
They mayor said there are also plans to improve traffic and pedestrian safety in the region and to develop several museums.
Abdulillah Jaddah and singer Mohammed Al-Hadad were among the artists who entertained the guests.
Abdul Samad Mohammed Abdul Samad, caretaker of Hai Al-Yemen and Hai Al-Bahar of Balad, welcomed the guests and outlined the history of Jeddah, its culture, landmarks and districts.
Top businessman Abdullah bin Ahmed Yousif Zainal spoke about the area’s businesses and links with other regions in the Kingdom.
He said King Abdulaziz, the Kingdom’s founder, stayed in Bait Naseef for 10 years.
He said it was important for property owners to help renovate and maintain buildings in the area.
Abu Ras said the municipality has almost completed 10 projects started two years ago to preserve and develop the heritage of the region. It signed a further four new projects last month.
He said nine projects involved the electronic authentication and storage of documents, and the establishment of a specialized department for urban heritage projects at the municipality.
He said the SCTA hopes to have the area included on the World Heritage List of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Abdullah Al-Amri, executive director of the SCTA in Makkah region, said the main aim of the festival was to help visitors discover the history of Jeddah.

Festival spotlights Jeddah’s rich heritage | Arab News — Saudi Arabia News, Middle East News, Opinion, Economy and more.

 

[al-Hasani]

Cabinet boosts tourism funding

RIYADH: ARAB NEWS

Published — Saturday 18 January 2014

Last update 18 January 2014 7:49 pm

The recent Cabinet decision to set up the King Abdullah Project for Urban Heritage Development and more financial and administrative support for the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) is a shot in the arm for the Kingdom’s tourism industry, according to a Saudi Press Agency (SPA) report.
The industry is expected to provide large-scale employment for unemployed young Saudis and boost economic growth, the SPA report stated.
The Cabinet decision is also expected to accelerate the development of the sector, and improve services to match customer charges.
The SCTA is currently working on major programs, projects and systems including establishing domestic tourism development companies with public and private investments.
It is in the final stages of launching the SR2.7 billion Aqir closed joint stock company in Al-Ahsa with public and private sector support, the report stated.
It also plans to set up joint stock companies to launch heritage hotel and hospitality projects in the Samhan district in Al-Diriyah in Riyadh, Jeddah’s old historic area, and at locations in Al-Ula and Al-Ahsa. Feasibility studies for the Samhan district project is already underway.
The report said that the SCTA would also establish the Saudi Tourism Development and Investment Co., a government holding company, owned by the General Investment Fund with capital of SR200 million.
The SCTA has signed agreements with government financing institutions such as the Saudi Credit and Savings Bank, Saudi Industrial Development Fund, Agricultural Development Fund, Centenary Fund and Human Resources Development Fund, to make financing available for tourism investors.
The SCTA’s studies have shown that the domestic tourism industry needs generous financing by government agencies to succeed, including in tourist hotels, resorts, residential units, travel and guide agencies, exhibitions, heritage and archaeological projects, handicrafts, museums, amusement and sports projects, eco-tourism projects, desert camping facilities, folk restaurants and coffee houses. Government also needs to finance the development of highways linking tourist spots and establish tourism services training institutes, the report stated.
The SCTA has recommended that agencies simplify their credit procedures and increase loan amounts.
The tourism body recently launched 20 investment portfolios for tourist projects and contributed to financing 195 projects at a cost of SR196 million.
It is also working in coordination with the Ministry of Finance to lay down a mechanism for long term leasing at tourist locations to encourage private investments, the report stated.
Meanwhile, Education Minister Prince Khaled Al-Faisal said the ministry would work with the SCTA to make young people aware of their country’s history and heritage and strengthen their sense of national identity.
Prince Khaled also underscored the efforts of Prince Sultan bin Salman, the SCTA president, in making tourism a significant sector in the national economy, SPA reported.
Prince Khaled made this observation in a meeting with Prince Sultan at the Ministry of Education’s office in Riyadh on Thursday.
Prince Sultan said Prince Khaled played a remarkable role in the development of tourism in the county and was the driving force behind promoting the industry in the Kingdom 35 years ago.
The newly launched King Abdullah Project for Urban Heritage Development depended on the cooperation of the ministry to succeed. The project aims to spread awareness about the Kingdom’s heritage and history, the SPA report stated.

Cabinet boosts tourism funding | Arab News — Saudi Arabia News, Middle East News, Opinion, Economy and more.

 

[Wahhab2701]

Look I am sharing this with you as an international tourist who has seen pretty much all major tourist hotspots around the world. Not 100% but close. Been to KSA and met some wonderful people there.

Showcasing may be important for KSA people themselves. Otherwise it is just like trying too hard to impress.

Believe men most of the international tourists want some place where they can walk around freely, where woman can put their hair down and me can relax without interruption.

Sun surf and good food.

That's it.

people are looking for freedom and not some big or old or big-old building.




1.6 billion do not have dispensable cash anywhere near the non-Muslim world of even half the size.

That partially true. But the recent economic development in moslem countries shows that some moslem countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, turkey and GCC have a much better economic growth than many non-moslem countries especially in Europe. In natural resources wise, clearly moslem countries are so rich and it is just about the time they can use these resources to their maximum advantage. Coupled with most moslem consider visiting Hejaz as religious duty then they will visit it as often as possible? Not to mention that the cost of living in most moslem countries are not as high as many non moslem countries thus people can spare more money for Travelling. I have many family members who visit the holy lands annually (sometimes with their kids and wife) while they can barely make US $50k per annum.

I can tell you that there many kind of tourists (at least this is what I see in the place where i live). Some tourist would love to spend their time in the beach surfing and sunbathing. Some others love to visit ancient sites while some others love religious tourism (yes you read it correct). most of Indonesians (hundreds of thousands of them) visit KSA clearly not for seeing naked women and men (for this we have plenty at home) but for religious tourism. The same thing also happen to millions other tourists that visit KSA.

Every country is unique in tourism potential and the same applied to KSA. They can't change their mindset just to please a few hundreds of thousands western tourist and ignore the 16 millions moslem tourist.

My suggestion to Saudis is stick with your tradition, there is a beauty in it. Do not change just because some people want you to change instead change gradually as you see it fits you. 16 million tourists is enough for you for the time being (in this your government understand it very well. They don't bite more they can chew)

 

[al-Hasani]

Jeddah Heritage Festival concludes its 10-day run

MAIN ATTRACTION: Organizers termed Jeddah Heritage Festival a success with over 750,000 visitors participating in its activities. (AN photo)

​

JEDDAH: IRFAN MOHAMMED​

Published — Monday 27 January 2014

Last update 27 January 2014 12:57 am

Curtains came down on the 10-day Jeddah Heritage Festival on Saturday, and the organizers said it was a huge success with over 750,000 people visiting the festival.
This is the first of its kind festival held in Jeddah to raise awareness among the public about the rich heritage of the port city. The festival gains significance in the backdrop of the UNESCO rejecting the Kingdom’s request for inclusion of Jeddah’s Balad heritage district in the World Heritage list in the past on ground that the authorities didn’t taken any appropriate action to preserve the heritage or create awareness about it.
The event, which was inaugurated by Makkah Gov. Prince Mishal bin Abdullah, was also attended by Prince Mishal bin Majed and Prince Sultan bin Salman, chairman of Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiques (SCTA).
Professor Abdullah Al-Dalawi, president of Jeddah Heritage festival committee, said over 750,000 people had visited the festival in Balad. He also termed it as a grand success in which all stake-holders played an important role.
Mazin Beterjee, vice chairman of Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) hailed media’s role in the heritage festival, and said the organizers should make efforts to highlight the heritage issue consistently not only with the local media but also international.
The Kingdom has intensified its efforts to get the historical Jeddah district included in UNESCO’s World Heritage list including fulfilling all the criteria for applying again for listing in 2014.
This will be third site from the Kingdom seeking UNESCO recognition. Earlier, it had succeeded in getting Madain Saleh included in the World Heritage list as the first archaeological site in 2008 followed by Al-Darayia in 2010. In both cases, the sites met UNESCO’s selection criteria.
Mohammed Abdullah Al-Amri of SCTA in Makkah region told Arab News on the sidelines of the festival that they were hopeful that the UNESCO will consider the application this year. “The UNESCO inspection team can inspect the heritage site any time,” he said.
The International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) — an organ of the UNESCO — had earlier rejected the Kingdom’s application to list Balad area stating that it was neglected, besides lack of public awareness of the importance and value of heritage sites, with residential houses coming up around such sites.
Floods and fire accidents had also damaged some of houses which are part of the heritage site. In 2010, seven such buildings were fully damaged and another 33 partially damaged in a fire incident. Al-Qadi’s house, a prominent landmark, was also destroyed in that fire.
In the past three decades, over 200 old houses were destroyed in various fire accidents in Balad area.
The number of historic houses has declined from 557 to 350 in recent years, according to Jeddah Municipality and SCTA officials.
Since then, authorities with the support of SCTA chairman Prince Sultan bin Salman and Jeddah Municipality, are making serious efforts to popularize Jeddah’s historic Hijaz heritage and also initiated several measures to conserve and renovate the heritage buildings in Balad.
Elaborate efforts are being made to popularize the heritage festival with active participation of private sector and also involving the younger generation of the city.
Old Jeddah has been an open museum for generations. Its traditional Hijaz heritage reflects the history of Jeddah. It is located in the city center and comprises many historical places. The city’s most distinctive features are the Jeddah Wall, which was built to protect the old city against Portuguese attacks; the small districts that hold stories of the beautiful bygone days; and a number of historic mosques and markets still visited by the people.

Jeddah Heritage Festival concludes its 10-day run | Arab News — Saudi Arabia News, Middle East News, Opinion, Economy and more.

 

[al-Hasani]

Saudi Arabia, Greece to boost tourism
​

Prince Sultan Bin Salman, President of the Saudi Commission of Tourism and Antiquities, poses with Saudi and Greek teams after signing a memorandum of understanding with Greek Minister for Touristic Development Olga Kefalogianni in Riyadh on Monday. Saudi tourist guides will have a chance to receive training on various fields in Greece. The Kingdom will benefit from the Greece’s experience in developing its tourist attractions and programs. –SPA

Saudi Arabia, Greece to boost tourism | Kingdom | Saudi Gazette