Gloria Guevara, president & CEO of the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) which represents the global Travel & Tourism private sector, congratulated Saudi Arabia as it transformed the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage into a ministry, and renamed it the Ministry of Tourism. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman issued a royal order appointing Ahmed Al Khateeb as the minister of tourism last week. WTTC has been working in partnership with the Ministry of Tourism since September of 2019 to establish Saudi Arabia as a top five inbound destination, with 100 million international and domestic visits by 2030. The partnership harnesses the power and expertise of WTTC's global membership, world class events and 30 years' experience in research and strategic policy work, to support Saudi Arabia's ambitious goals and Vision 2030 plan. Gloria Guevara said, "I would like to congratulate Saudi Arabia on its decision to transform the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage into a ministry, as well as the new minister Ahmed Al Khateeb. This shift speaks to the country's great commitment to opening the country for tourism and their work towards the Vision 2030 plan." "Tourism is one of the world's most important drivers of economic growth and social opportunities. In line with the country's Vision 2030, in ten years, tourism will comprise more than 10% of Saudi Arabia's GDP, compared to 3% today," Guevara added "The government continues to recognize the enormous opportunities tourism can bring to the country and as they make strong strides towards the creation of over 260,000 new sector jobs within the next three years and over a million jobs by 2030, I am delighted to see the tangible changes the destination is making to drive future tourism." "The potential for tourism in Saudi Arabia is limitless. The country has a wealth of natural and cultural resources not yet discovered by many international travelers. "Travel & Tourism growth will not only create jobs and economic growth but will also spread a new understanding of Saudi Arabia's rich culture around the world, and this newest change will only aide in that growth and transformation," Guevara said. – SG
