RIYADH: The Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) estimates that the tourism sector will create 1.5 million direct and indirect jobs for Saudis by 2020. The SCTA statistics show that by 2014 there will be an expected 21 multinational hotels operating in different parts of the Kingdom. This will lead to the initial employment of 15,000 Saudi job seekers. The commission is working to create jobs for male and female Saudi youth with a number of projects, including the National Projects for the Development of Human Tourism Resources. These projects were hampered in the past by a number of obstacles, including a lack of experts and trained people, and a lack of acceptance of these kinds of jobs in Saudi society. In a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), Dr. Abdullah Al-Weshail, Director General of the Development of Tourism Human Resources “Takamul”, said that this situation has changed. He said the dream of Saudization in tourism is slowly becoming a reality and will soon see the employment of thousands of young Saudi job seekers. He said the commission has opened channels of cooperation with 26 training institutions. A total of 22 bodies are already participating in the program. He pointed out that the Human Resources Fund covers 50 percent of the stipend or the financial cost of the program for trainees. The training program has been designed for university graduates who have not been able to find jobs, Al-Weshail said, adding that the program offers this group of people a unique opportunity to gain new skills so that they can find work in the tourism sector. During the six-month training course, the trainees will attend a crash course in English because this language is one of the basic requirements for jobs in the tourism sector, said Al-Weshail. He said the commission is working with the Ministry of Higher Education to help train young Saudis. More than 150 university graduates have been sent on scholarships to specialize in different areas such as hotel management. Others are doing their masters and doctorate degrees in tourism. He said in three years' time Saudi youth will fill 80 percent of jobs in the tourist accommodation sector.
