The Saudi Tourism Authority (STA), in cooperation with more than 20 partners from the private sector and tourist destinations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, during its participation in the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2021 that was held at the Dubai World Trade Center between May 16 and 19, succeeded and managed to shed light on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as one of the most important emerging tourist destinations worldwide thanks to its enormous elements of tourist treasures and investment opportunities, and held around 900 meetings during the exhibition days, which resulted in signing several qualitative agreements and partnerships with major prestigious companies at the regional and international levels. This participation is in synchronization with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's preparations to open its doors again for tourists from all around the world to enjoy the entertaining and safe tourist experiments, landmarks and destinations. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's pavilion at the exhibition witnessed an astonishing presence of the most prominent major tourist projects, destinations, sites and experiments through offering interactive experiences to the visitors of the exhibition, which reflected what the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia enjoys of authenticity and welcoming, as well as natural, climate, cultural and social diversity. The Saudi pavilion witnessed the signing of the STA of several important and qualitative agreements and partnerships, mainly signing a memorandum of understanding with the online prominent Indian travel agency "TBO" with the aim of promoting and introducing Saudi tourist destinations through its platforms, in addition to signing a joint marketing agreement with the globally renowned Hotelbeds Company that includes more than 180,000 tourist travel agencies. Also, several memorandums of understanding, agreements and partnerships were signed between Saudi and global companies in various fields, where a strategic partnership was announced between the Seera Group for regional travel service and the online international booking platform KLook to develop a comprehensive digital booking platform for the Saudi tourist service providers, in addition to announcing the establishment of at least seven hotels around the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia through a development agreement between international hotel company IHG and RIVA company, and an agreement between the Saudia Airlines and Etihad Airways, which allows members of the loyalty program of both sides to earn and exchange miles. The agreements also included the announcement of an expansion project to the Crowne Plaza Riyadh Palace and Riyadh Airport Marriott Hotel through the Dur Hospitality Company. GoZahid Company was also launched as a new trademark in the field of trip organization by the Zahid Group. In addition to launching a set of new packages by the Gulf travel agency Aviareps to embark on entertaining tourist experiments toward Al-Ula Governorate with its natural, heritage and cultural treasures. Saudi Tourism Authority CEO Fahd Hamidaddin said that this event has formed an extremely invaluable opportunity in a perfect timing through meeting with pioneers of the tourism industry in the world to show the bright side and future of the tourism sector in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in addition to acquainting them with the enormous tourist treasures, promising investment opportunities, accelerating growth and limitless aspirations and ambitions, which all accord with the Saudi Vision 2030.
