The Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) has estimated tourism revenues in the Kingdom at about SR66 billion in 2010, a growth rate of 4.76 percent. In an address entitled “Stimulation of Tourism Investment Environment in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia” at the recent Cityscape 2010 exhibition in Jeddah, the Commission's Vice President for Investment, Dr. Salah Al-Bakhit said that the SCTA expects tourism revenues to reach SR118 billion in 2015, and SR232 billion in 2020. He pointed out that according to the Commission's estimates, the revenues of transportation sector will increase to SR30 billion and that of restaurants and cafes to SR36 billion in the current year. Saudi nationals represented 117,384 of the 457,658 people employed by the tourism industry at the end of 2009 Al-Bakhit said. The SCTA, Al-Bakhit said, wants to attract more investment and will start a development company to identify new opportunities in the Kingdom. The commission also wants to promote its Red Sea coastline and historical sites, including Madain Saleh and Souq Okaz, as tourist destinations, he said.
