Saudi Tourism Sector To Create 1.6 Million Jobs By 2015

While speaking to Muhammad Al-Jasser, the Minister of Economy and Planning, Prince Sultan bin Salman, president of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA), stressed the need for an agreement between the two organisations in order to encourage the exchange of information and to manage national planning for the sector, according to a report by Saudi-based Arab News.

The prince said, “By the end of 2010, the number of direct and indirect jobs created by the sector rose to 1.2 million,” of which 128,000 were Saudi.

Al-Jasser emphasised the significant role of tourism in enhancing the national economy, saying it provides numerous jobs to various people, the report added.

“I was very happy to know the remarkable achievements of SCTA during the past years in promoting domestic tourism,” he said.

Last month, the World Board of Travel and Tourism said that the tourism industry in the Kingdom is estimated to grow to SR55.8bn (US$14.88bn) in 2012 compared to SR38.9bn (US$10.37bn) recorded in 2009.