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Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTH), since its inception has passed through several stages before getting its current structure and become the first ever government agency responsible for the tourism sector in the Kingdom.

Saudi Council of Ministers on 12/1/1421H (16/04/2000), issued, Resolution No. (9) For the establishment of Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTH) with an emphasis that tourism is one of the productive sectors that can retain the Saudi tourists within the country, at the same time increasing investment opportunities, developing human resources, and expanding and creating new job opportunities for the Saudi nationals. 

Subsequently, due to the importance of the National Heritage as it is the component of the major elements of tourism in any country in the world, another Resolution No. (78) dated 16/3/1429 H ( 24/3/2008 ) by the Council of Ministers was issued to integrate the National Heritage and Museums sector into the Supreme Commission for Tourism (SCT), with this SCT became a body responsible for the implementation of the related tasks, in addition to its original responsibility on tourism. 

From the outset, the main objective of the establishment of SCTH has been to take care of the tourism sector in the Kingdom along the lines of organization, development, and promotion of the sector

SCTH also works to enhance the role of tourism sector through overcoming any obstacles that may prevent its development, in view of the Kingdom's huge tourism potential. SCTH's efforts include preservation, development, and maintenance of the National Heritage and promoting the contribution of antiquity in the cultural and economic development of the citizens.

SCTH envisages the role of tourism sector to be in line with the prestige and position of the Kingdom as well as its role in the whole of human civilization, and its existent impact on the international community.

Vision and Mission

Saudi Arabia's vision of tourism sector  depend  on its ethical, social, and civilizational dimensions in the first place, followed by its economic dimension and the regional and international role and interaction with the values of other communities. The Saudi society in all its segments and sectors is the first participant in the formulation of these premises that emit this vision. After that the tasks which will depend on in a comprehensive framework for the implementation of the policies and the principles of sustainability and economic viability, taking into account the social, cultural, environmental realities and the authentic Islamic values and heritage and the traditional hospitality that is characteristic of the Kingdom

For more information about Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage SCTH), visit the link  http://www.scta.gov.sa/en/Pages/default.asp​

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Since the launch of Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia is more open than ever before welcoming people from around the globe. With the introduction of the e-visa in 2019, millions of visitors have been drawn to the Kingdom, which has helped in creating jobs and driving local economic growth. To further promote the country as a tourist destination, initiatives in the areas of archaeology, culture, education, and the arts are being undertaken to preserve the Kingdom's rich heritage and natural beauty, while opening it up to the world. Major events like the Red Sea International Film Festival and the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix are attracting visitors and showcasing the Kingdom's warm hospitality. Additionally, as a central location in the Arab and Islamic world, Saudi Arabia is enhancing its facilities and services to provide pilgrims with an unforgettable spiritual experience. As it welcomes the world to come and experience its unique offering, the Kingdom's breathtaking beauty and rich heritage make it a must-visit destination.

His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz

Crown Prince, Prime Minister, & Chairman of the Council of Economics and Development Affairs

Vision 2030 has enabled an economic transformation that has in turn driven a cultural transformation in Saudi Arabia. Through the digital economy and new sectors like tourism, gaming, entertainment, and culture, we are connecting the Saudi people to the world, and the world with Saudi Arabia.

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Saudi Arabia approves new tourism law to boost investments in the sector

The legislation is intended to help attract more visitors and make it easier doing business in the industry.

An ancient Nabataean carved tomb at the archaeological site in AlUla. Saudi Arabia is developing a number of major tourism projects. AFP

Saudi Arabia has approved a new law to boost the development of the tourism sector in the Arab world’s largest economy, attract more investment in the sector and increase visitor numbers.

This is part of efforts by the Saudi government to diversify the country's economy away from oil.

The new tourism law, approved by a resolution passed by the Council of Ministers this week, will establish a new regulatory environment to “attract tourism innovators and improve ease of doing business” in the kingdom, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.

It will also streamline the licensing processes and procedures by creating a one-stop-shop platform for all tourism stakeholders as well as allow “new or experimental tourism businesses to receive special licences” to operate in the country.

The new tourism law will “drive business and investment, support innovation and attract tourists, in line with international best practices”, Saudi Arabia’s Tourism Minister Ahmed Al Khateeb, said.

“This law follows the kingdom’s recent announcement of the Regional Tourism Development Councils Regulation, a major milestone in advancing Saudi Arabia’s National Tourism Strategy,” Mr Al Khateeb said.

“The regulation will accelerate the development of tourist destinations in the various regions, including Neom, Al Soudah, the Red Sea and Diriyah Gate.”

Saudi Arabia is developing a number of tourism projects as it seeks to raise the economic contribution of the tourism sector from 3 per cent of gross domestic product to 10 per cent by 2030.

These include Neom, a $500 billion futuristic city comprising a nature reserve, coral reefs and heritage sites on a number of islands along the Red Sea, and Diriyah Gate, a seven-square-kilometre site with the At-Turaif Unesco World Heritage Site at its core.

The Red Sea Development Company — which is owned by the kingdom’s Public Investment Fund — is also building a mega-tourism project along the Red Sea coast, with 16 hotels across five islands and two inland sites as part of the first phase.

The Council of Ministers also approved a resolution that “empowers the ministry of tourism to enable sector growth”, SPA reported.

It allows the ministry to give tax and custom exceptions or reductions with related government entities, creating incentives for businesses to invest in the tourism sector.

“This new framework for collaboration with the private sector and relevant government entities will improve the quality of services in the tourism sector and promote Saudi Arabia as a top five global destination,” the report said.

“It will accelerate achieving the goals set by the kingdom’s National Tourism Strategy and Vision 2030, including 100 million new visits, tourism’s 10 per cent GDP contribution and 1 million new tourism jobs.”

Saudi Arabia's economy recovered in 2021 from the coronavirus-induced slowdown, with economic activity picking up momentum this year as oil prices rose.

Output grew 11.8 per cent in the second quarter of this year, on the back of higher oil prices and rising oil-related activities, according to flash estimates released by the General Authority for Statistics.

Saudi Arabia's travel and tourism sector will grow an average of 11 per cent annually over the next decade, making it the Middle East's fastest-growing market, the World Travel and Tourism Council said in a recent report.

By 2032, the sector’s contribution to Saudi Arabia's GDP could reach nearly 635bn Saudi riyals ($169bn), representing 17.1 per cent of the kingdom's total economy, it said.

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Saudi megaprojects 2022

The site of the $500bn Neom project in the Tabuk Province of northwestern Saudi Arabia. Photo: SCTH

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Saudi Arabia’s Travel & Tourism to Have Fastest Growth in the Middle East Over the Next Decade

Saudi Arabia’s Travel & Tourism to have fastest growth in the Middle East over the next decade

Employment in the sector set to double by 2032

Sector expected to surpass pre-pandemic levels by next year

Saudi Arabia to host WTTC’s 22 nd Global Summit later this year

London, UK: The World Travel & Tourism Council ( WTTC ) has revealed the Travel & Tourism sector in Saudi Arabia is expected to grow at an average of 11% annually over the next decade, making it the fastest growing Travel & Tourism in the Middle East.

According to the forecast from WTTC’s latest Economic Impact Report (EIR), this annual growth, more than six times the 1.8% growth rate of the country’s overall economy, will bolster the economic recovery of the Kingdom.

By 2032, the Travel & Tourism sector’s contribution to GDP could reach nearly SAR 635 billion, representing 17.1% of the total economy.

The forecast also reveals Travel & Tourism employment could double over the next 10 years, creating more than 1.4 million jobs, to reach almost three million employed within the sector by 2032.

The projections for both employment and the sector’s contribution to the Kingdom's economy, surpass the ambitious goals set out by the government’s Vision 2030 strategic framework.

By 2023, following two years of heartache, Saudi Arabia’s Travel & Tourism sector's contribution to the national economy could surpass pre-pandemic levels, when it is projected to rise 2% above 2019 levels, to reach nearly SAR 297 billion.

Employment in the sector could also exceed 2019 levels by 14.1%, creating more than 223,000 additional jobs, representing nearly more than 1.8 million by the end of next year.

By the end of this year, the sector’s contribution to GDP is expected to grow 15.2% to nearly SAR 223 billion, amounting to 7.2% of the total economic GDP, while employment in the sector is set to grow by 16.1% to reach more than 1.5 million jobs.

According to the global tourism body, the Kingdom, due to host WTTC’s 22 nd Global Summit in Riyadh from 28 November to 1 December this year, is witnessing a faster than average recovery following the government’s total commitment to the Travel & Tourism sector, ensuring it remained at the forefront of the global agenda.

Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, said: “Throughout these difficult times for our sector, the Saudi Arabia government has recognised the importance of Travel & Tourism and has led the world in its recovery. Through his leadership, Travel & Tourism will become a driving force of the Saudi Arabian economy and will surpass the goals set out in its Vision 2030 blueprint.

“I would like to commend Ahmed Al Khateeb, who has shown strong leadership during this crisis which has boosted the sector’s growth with unprecedented investments and new approaches to tourism.

“I am delighted the Kingdom is hosting our 22 nd Global Summit, where we will be able to continue our efforts of showcasing the importance of the Travel & Tourism sector and look ahead to the future of travel.”

Before the pandemic, Saudi Arabia’s Travel & Tourism total contribution to GDP was 9.7% (SAR 291.6 billion) in 2019, falling to just 6.6% (SAR 190.6 billion) in 2020, representing a staggering 34.6% loss.

The sector also supported nearly 1.6 million jobs, before an almost complete halt to international travel which resulted in a loss of 350,000 (22.2%), to reach just over 1.2 million in 2020.

Download the press release >

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UN Tourism | Bringing the world closer

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Innovation, Education and Rural Development: UNWTO Strengthens Partnership with Saudi Arabia

• Middle East
• 14 Mar 2022

UNWTO and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have agreed on the next steps they will jointly take to establish tourism as a driver of growth, opportunity and development across the Middle East and beyond.

Less than a year after the official opening of the Regional Office for the Middle East in Riyadh , plans for a range of projects to be run out of the hub have been further advanced, signalling the ever closer cooperation between UNWTO and the Kingdom.

A range of projects is being designed to establish UNWTO’s Regional Office as a leader in tourism for rural development while also making the opportunities of tourism available to everyone through a range of education initiatives. Meeting in Madrid this week, UNWTO Secretary-General Pololikashvili and Saudi Minister for Tourism HE Ahmed Aqeel AlKhateeb agreed to further advance their shared vision and committed to working closely together to fulfil the sector’s potential across the region.

Rural Development and digitalization 

Among the projects being managed by the Regional Office is the UNWTO Global Tourism and Rural Development Programme, aimed at making tourism a pillar of growth and opportunity for rural communities. The Programme includes the world’s Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO initiative, now in its second year after the inaugural competition drew huge interest from destinations in every global region. Alongside this, the Regional Office will also focus on knowledge creation for policy and business practices, training and skills development and Technical Assistance on the ground, with plans also in place to establish a first Tourism and Rural Development Observatory in Riyadh.

Secretary-General Pololikashvili and HE Minister Ahmed Aqeel AlKhateeb emphasised their commitment to guiding tourism based on education and innovation. From the Regional Office, UNWTO will support Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) embrace digitalization with partnerships with the largest technology companies such as Amadeus, Mastercard, Cisco, Telefónica, amongst others already established. The UNWTO Digital Futures Programme aims to provide training on connectivity, e-commerce, big data and analytics, and online payments and security, to as many as 20,000 SMEs in 22 countries, including 5,000 in the first 12 months. Later this month (25-26 March), a UNWTO Tourism Tech Adventures innovation forum will be in the United Arab Emirates.

To realize the goal of creating more added-value jobs in tourism through education. To this end, a new UNWTO Knowledge Lab will be launched from Riyadh, while a first Observatory on Quality of Tourism Education and Jobs will also be established to monitor the advancement of the strategy. To ensure the benefits of tourism education are enjoyed as widely as possible, 10 new online courses will be made available in Arabic through the UNWTO Tourism Online Academy , and UNWTO will also work with higher education providers from the region through the new Tourism Faculty Development Programme.

Green investments for green transitions

In line with UNWTO’s wider commitment to advancing tourism for climate action, plans are in place to make the Regional Office for the Middle East a hub for promoting green investments in the tourism sector, both in the region and worldwide, including through projects developed in partnership with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), and other partners such as the Saudi Tourism Development Fund (TDF) – responding to the UNWTO climate action framework ,outlined in the Glasgow Declaration , launched at COP26.

UNWTO | Saudi Arabia

Unwto strengthens partnership with saudi arabia.

Related links:

• Download the news release in PDF
• UNWTO Tourism Online Academy
• Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO
• UNWTO Opens Regional Office for the Middle East
• UNWTO Tourism Tech Adventure UAE

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12 September ‎ 2021 | TDF in the News

Ksa tourism development fund to finance $133mln project in baha.

Saudi Arabia’s Tourism Development Fund will finance a resort in Baha, which is slated to be the biggest project in the history of the region at a cost of SR500 million ($133 million). Spread over an area of 50,000 sq. meters, the project will take five years for completion. implementation period is five years. Baha Gov. Prince Hussam bin Saudi Al-Saud will lay the cornerstone.

18 May ‎ 2023 | TDF in the News

Saudi tourism development fund collaborates with hyatt to develop hospitality focused destinations in saudi arabia.

Expanding its roster of collaborators, the Tourism Development Fund (TDF) has announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with an affiliate of Hyatt Hotels Corporation to establish luxury hotels across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

17 May ‎ 2023 | TDF in the News

Tdf announces partnership with radisson hotel group to develop several hotels and resorts across saudi arabia.

The Tourism Development Fund (TDF) has announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Radisson Hotel Group to develop hospitality and tourism projects across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The first project under this memorandum is expected to be announced in H2 of 2023.

16 May ‎ 2023 | TDF in the News

Saudi tourism development fund announces future partnership with minor hotels to develop multiple hospitality projects across ksa.

Saudi Arabia’s Tourism Development Fund (TDF) announces the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with MINOR Hotels, a hotel owner, operator, and investor. The MoU aims to jointly develop and operate high-quality hospitality and lifestyle projects focused on mountain resorts, wellness resorts, and urban hotels within the Kingdom. The first project under this partnership is expected to be announced in the second half of 2023.

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Saudi Arabia unveils key tourism investment opportunities at Berlin forum

Riyadh, 5 days ago.

The Saudi Ministry of Tourism took centre stage at the International Hospitality Investment Forum (IHIF) held from April 15-17, in Berlin, and presented a unique opportunity for global investors to dive into the thriving tourism landscape of the kingdom.

With the spotlight on the recently announced Tourism Investment Enablers Program (TIEP), Saudi Arabia is intensely pursuing its Vision 2030 goal of being a top global tourism destination for investors and tourists alike.

The flagship Hospitality Investment Enablers (HIE), one of TIEP’s initiatives, aims to leverage this momentum, planning an investment infusion in the hospitality sector of up to SAR42 billion ($11.2 billion) in key destinations, which alone is anticipated to create 120,000 new jobs by 2030.

The kingdom is targeting an increase in hotel rooms to over 500,000 and aiming to welcome 150 million visitors annually by 2030.

The HIE stands at the core of these ambitions, designed to energize the hospitality sector by introducing a new wave of supply in targeted tourism hotspots, significantly enriching the Kingdom's diverse tourism offerings.

The initiative is supported by a suite of strategic enablers, including access to government-owned land under favourable terms, streamlined project development processes, and regulatory adjustments aimed at reducing barriers to market entry and operational costs.

This comprehensive approach is expected to catalyse a significant socio-economic transformation within the Kingdom, with private sector investments projected to reach SAR42.3 billion and a forecasted annual GDP increase of SAR16.4 billion by 2030.

Saudi Arabia’s active participation in IHIF aims to showcase the kingdom as an enticing investment frontier for international investors, emphasising the lucrative opportunities within the tourism and hospitality sectors.

This global stage provides the perfect platform for the Ministry of Tourism to forge lasting partnerships and highlight the kingdom's commitment to elevating its tourism industry standards, fostering sustainable growth, and offering robust support to investors.

Through this engagement, the Saudi Ministry of Tourism is not just showcasing investment opportunities; it is inviting the world to be a part of Saudi Arabia's ambitious journey towards redefining global tourism norms.

Investors are encouraged to seize this opportunity to collaborate with the kingdom, as it paves the way for a new era of tourism excellence aligned with Vision 2030's transformative objectives.

It is notable that Saudi Arabia's tourism sector celebrates an incredible milestone of 100 million visitors in 2023, seven years ahead of schedule, marking a significant stride towards economic diversification and emphasising the sector's growing contribution to the national GDP. – TradeArabia News Service

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