Ashraf AboArafe
Berlin – Riyadh – Saudi tourism celebrated the successive successes, achievements, numbers achieved, and strategic partnerships concluded. At the conclusion of the participation of the Saudi Tourism Authority, along with its partners, in the Saudi tourism system; More than two hundred experiences and tourism packages ready for reservation, and more than ten new international agreements; In addition to achieving the Kingdom’s pavilion for excellence awards at the International Exhibition for Tourism Industry in Berlin (ITB Berlin).
The Minister of Tourism and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Tourism Authority, Ahmed bin Aqil Al-Khatib, inaugurated the Saudi pavilion; He received a number of presidents, ministers, leaders and officials. He also met officials of major commercial entities such as TUI and FTI, in addition to the leaders of the World Tourism Organization and the World Travel and Tourism Council. Through these meetings, a historic agreement was signed with the World Tourism Organization; Give priority to people by promoting e-learning.
The Saudi wing had grabbed the limelight. With the number of partners, the largest space, and the inspiring interactive content that expresses Saudi culture and originality; By receiving visitors with dates and Saudi coffee, and introducing unique destinations and experiences; In the first participation of Saudi tourism in this international forum; Where the Saudi pavilion won the award for the best pavilion ever, outperforming 5,500 exhibitors from 161 countries; In addition to the award for the best suite in the Middle East; The Saudi pavilion was distinguished in all evaluation criteria related to experiences that touch the five senses, sustainability and the use of advanced technology. The Saudi pavilion also highlighted the facilities, services and packages offered by the unified national platform “Nusk” that contribute to enriching the experience of those who come to Makkah and Madinah. Numerous meetings were held with travel, tourism and Umrah companies from Germany, Europe and the world.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia also concluded a number of fruitful and new international strategic agreements. With prominent names and prestigious brands.
The international forum witnessed a series of rich dialogue sessions. One of the most important was the dialogue session with Saudi Arabia’s partners. Through which Fahd Hamid Al-Din, CEO and member of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Tourism Authority spoke; With Martina Groenegris, CEO of Lufthansa City Center International, and Markus Orth, Managing Director of Lufthansa City Center Regional; The dialogue revolved around the interaction of partners with international networks in order to enhance growth, support partners and push the pace of business.
Fahd Hamid Al-Din, CEO and member of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Tourism Authority, said: “Saudi tourism achieved remarkable successes through the Berlin International Exhibition, which strengthened Saudi Arabia’s position on the global tourism map, and opened horizons of cooperation to enable partners from inside and outside the Kingdom, by highlighting the size of The huge opportunities in the market, as the German travel and Umrah companies realized the great potential in the Umrah sector, through “Nusk” receiving an unprecedented number of requests. The keenness of the German tourism sector in particular and the European one in general; To cooperate and conclude agreements with the partners of the Saudi tourism system; He added, “We have acquired a more comprehensive and deeper view of what the German and European tourists prefer, and we have what meets their aspirations and more, especially after the opening of a number of important projects on the shores of the Red Sea, and a number of tourism and heritage projects, such as Al-Bujairi Square in Diriyah, which has already received more than 700 visitors. Thousands of visitors since its opening.
Markus Orth, Managing Director of Lufthansa City Center Regional Company, said: “We are looking forward to a strategic partnership with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the new and exciting tourist destination, which focuses on a sustainable future for the tourism sector, with its unique destinations, historical and cultural sites, and new and luxurious Red Sea resorts. successive global events, and amazing and distinctive tourism experiences.
Norbert Fiebig, CEO of the German Travel Association, said: “The agreements concluded between the Saudi Tourism Authority and the German Travel Association will enhance opportunities for joint cooperation, build bridges of communication, friendship and respect between the two peoples, and promote travel between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Germany.”
Saudi tourism, since its renewed launch in 2019; has achieved many achievements and records; It is the fastest growing in the world, as it outperformed all G20 countries, with growth rates that reached 121% compared to the period before the global pandemic, and Saudi Arabia recorded 93.5 million visits in the year 2022, and the Kingdom is considered the largest investor in the world in the tourism sector, as it allocated Saudi Arabia $ 550 billion for new destinations; receives its visitors by 2030; Noting that the tourism sector in the Kingdom aims to reach 100 million visits annually by 2030.
and what is worth to mention; That the Saudi Tourism Authority participated in the ITB Berlin exhibition for the first time and of an exceptional size; With more than 45 partners; Among them: the Royal Commission for the City of Makkah Al-Mukarramah and the Holy Sites, the Makkah Region Development Authority, the Al-Madinah Development Authority, Al-Diriyah Company, Historic Jeddah, the Tourism Development Fund, the Asir Region Development Authority, the Royal Commission for Al-Ula Governorate, NEOM, and the Red Sea Development Company, in addition to To tourist destinations, tour operators, hotels, travel and tourism companies and airlines.
