With the remarkable economic growth achieved by the Kingdom in recent years, experts expect the tourism and travel sector to perform exceptionally well this year. Ziyad Ahmed Bin Mahfouz, recently appointed Elaf Group's CEO said: “Tourism generates several job opportunities in the Kingdom. It is also a major investment attraction. We have various hotels in Jeddah, Riyadh, Abha and Najran, which have contributed in increasing Saudization quota from 30 to 60 percent.” The region is witnessing an economic boom due to high oil prices. This boom has boosted the volume of private and public investments in religious and leisure tourism, infrastructure, and real estate, Elaf Group said. The Kingdom has significantly benefited from this trend as it has the appropriate cultural, educational, and social foundations to attract both regional and international tourists, Bin Mahfouz said. Elaf plans to develop domestic and international services that will cater to the unique needs of tourists visiting the Kingdom for religious purposes,” Bin Mahfouz said. “We are committed to implement ambitious plans that will complement the government's strategies to further encourage domestic tourism,” he added. __
