Amongst our national goals and tourism development strategies are critical ones such as: supporting domestic tourism, limiting the financial leakage of external tourism, developing tourist investments inside the Kingdom, and accomplishing the most important and ultimate goal of Saudisation,” explained Dr Salah Al Bukhayyet, Vice President – Investments of Saudi Commission for Tourism & Antiquities (SCTA).
“Saudi people are historically known for their generosity, so we are speaking about a community which is used to hosting visitors and serving them in the best way. Governmental organisation for the hospitality sector started 30 years ago,” he added.
Dr Salah Al Bukhayyet was speaking at the start of the 5th Annual Kingdom Hotel Expansion Summit, which opened yesterday at the InterContinental Hotel Riyadh. HRH revealed the extent of the progress made by the SCTA programme – now in its third year – which is driving tourism across the country. He also outlined His thoughts for the progress of the tourism sector in Saudi Arabia over the next three to five years, where as many as 38,000 housing units and 50,000 rooms are expected to be added.
Organised by French deal facilitation group naseba, the annual summit is the only platform bringing together diverse stakeholders from the hospitality sector, including owners, operators, government authorities, designers, architects and global solution providers. With almost 100 new properties under construction in Saudi Arabia — the largest in the GCC — this is an important time for the Kingdom, and ensuring this growth is sustainable is vital.
A key discussion today will outline the macro-economic viewpoint of new developments in Saudi Arabia’s hotel sector. It features expert panellists Yazan Al Shouly, Associate Director – Acquisitions and Development, Starwood Hotels and Resorts; Ronald Egelman, Director of Development, Middle East & Africa, InterContinental Hotels Group; and Khalid Anib, Managing Director – Hospitality, Al Hokair Group — all of whom have first-hand expertise of investing, expanding and managing hotels.
The summit is also timely given last week’s announcement by InterContinental Hotel Group (the largest international hotel group in the world) of the signing of an agreement with Dyafah Al Mutahida LLC to open a 200-key Staybridge Suites property in Jeddah. This will be the first Staybridge Suites property, offering an extended stay experience, in Saudi Arabia.
“Saudi Arabia is currently a really strong market and perhaps the most unique in the world. With more than 100 new hotel projects in development across Kingdom, we are excited to have the support of the Saudi Commission of Tourism and Antiquities for this initiative, which aims to help further drive the hospitality sector,” explained Fabien Faure, naseba Managing Director.