JEDDAH – The SR290 billion worth of tourism-related projects that are currently underway in the Kingdom, including railway projects, are one of the key drivers of the Saudi economy and an important factor for economic development, the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) said. These developments are expected to create more job opportunities for Saudi nationals, who currently account for 28 percent of the 670,000 tourism-related jobs in the Kingdom. SCTA also stressed on the economic potential of this promising sector to create new jobs across various levels, even as estimates indicate that the tourism sector will employ nearly 1.1 million people by 2015 in Saudi Arabia, once the planned tourism-related expected projects and investments start. SCTA also stressed on the economic potential of this promising sector to create new jobs across various levels, even as estimates indicate that the tourism sector will employ nearly 1.1 million people by 2015 in Saudi Arabia, once the planned tourism-related expected projects and investments start. Given the increasing demand for high quality hospitality projects across the Kingdom, especially in Makkah, Abdul Latif Jameel Real Estate Investment Co. (ALJREIC), one of the leading real estate and development companies in Saudi Arabia that is focused on developing hotel facilities for Haj and Ummrah visitors, recently launched the SR10 billion Jabal Al Ka'aba project. Upon completion, the project is expected to add up to 8,500 hotel rooms through a cluster of hotels over the next few years, under the "Anjum Hotels" brand. "Through the Jabal Al Ka'aba project, we expect to create approximately 400 jobs for Saudi nationals, demonstrating ALJREIC's commitment to strengthen the country's tourism sector, while maximizing employment opportunities for locals and supporting industry-oriented plans," said Mahmoud Mokhtar, Chief Operating Officer of Abdul Latif Jameel Real Estate Investment Co. According to a report issued by MAS Centre, a department of the SCTA, the average annual occupancy of hotel rooms in the Kingdom has increased by 3.8 percent from 59.2 percent in 2010 to 63 percent in 2011,while tourism jobs accounted for 8 percent of total employees in the Kingdom in 2011, compared to 7.9 percent in 2010. – SG
