Economic generator Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Emir of Makkah Region (center); Prince Mansour Bin Mite'b, Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs (left), Prince Sultan Bin Salman Bin Abdul Aziz, Chairman of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities at a press conference for the launching of the new tourist investment project at Al-Qunfudha and Al-Laith Governorates Wednesday at Jeddah Westin Hotel. (Photo by Badr Al-Asmari) JEDDAH: “Tourism is not for entertainment, it is an income source,” Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Emir of Makkah Region, said Wednesday at the launch of new tourism investment projects in Al-Qunfudha and Al-Laith governorates, south of the region. The new projects are considered a part of developing Makkah region to be the most attractive tourist environment in the Kingdom. “We as Makkah Emirate are ready to help Saudi businessmen to start their own investment projects in the area by any means,” Prince Khaled said. In a press conference at Jeddah Westin Hotel, accompanied by Prince Mansour Bin Mite'b, Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs, Prince Sultan Bin Salman Bin Abdul Aziz, Chairman of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) and Hani Abu Ras, Jeddah Mayor. “We have already set the land in order to make the procedures for the Saudi businessmen very easy,” Prince Khaled said. He added that the projects will improve the economic status of citizens. “This project came after a partnership program between the private and government sectors to develop the targeted areas,” he said. He noted that most of the infrastructure projects had already been done in Al-Qunfudha and Al-Laith, adding that the project in Al-Laith seaport will soon start, along with the industrial area for foodstuff and airport in the Al-Qunfudha Governorate. Prince Sultan Bin Salman said the targeted area contains attractive scenes and expected to provide a good income for businessmen. “To develop the investment in the tourism field in Saudi Arabia, we need to establish the tourism and investment fund,” Prince Sultan said. He added that the projects will create more than 50,000 job opportunities for Saudi youth. “This project came after the sharing program between the mayoralty and Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities to open more vacant places for Saudi youth to work in the local tourism field. We have good seashores along with natural and heritage environment to attract either local or expatriate visitors,” said Mohammed Bin Abdullah Al-Amri, Executive Director of the General Authority for Tourism and Antiquities in Makkah Region. Jeddah Mayor Hani Abu Ras said the mayoralty has already conducted several workshops with SCTA in order to select the locations based on scientific environmental studies. “This project aims to decrease the tourist pressure on Jeddah City and it will include resorts and hotels,” he said.
