On Tuesday, the Minister of Tourism for Saudi Arabia, Ahmed Al-Khateeb introduced a strategy to expand human capital in tourism. It would be executed by the ministry together with its partners in the government and private sectors.
While speaking on the occasion, Ahmed Al-Khateeb explained that the plan was devised to draw clear lines so that Kingdom’s younger generation would take up jobs in tourism and hospitality, with a target to create around one million new job opportunities by the end of 2030.
Al-Khateeb explained that this strategy is an additional arm of the ambitious Vision 2030 of the Kingdom as well as the strategy of tourism development to attain an overall growth in domestic tourism revenues which is expected to reach about 10 percent in the coming 10 years, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The strategy launched in the vicinity of Salwa Palace in Diriyah, has 20 programs with 15 of them tries to prepare Saudis to take up jobs in the tourism sector of the Kingdom.
“The strategy represents an important step aimed at developing human capital in the tourism sector, with the aim of making the Kingdom a prosperous and attractive destination for tourists, by creating sustainable job opportunities for male and female citizens, and achieving basic goals,” Al-Khateeb said.
He also advised that a slow localization of tourism jobs while pulling qualified people to take up such careers in the sector. He mentioned that the goals also features application of the highest standards in education and training within and outside the Kingdom, in tandem with the government agencies and the private sector at home and abroad, to attain development of local human capital in tourism.
The minister stated that the strategy launch is in line with the leadership aspirations to find new paths and job opportunities in tourism as this sector is key and has plenty of opportunities for entrepreneurs as well as self-employed.
“Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman always stress the importance of exerting efforts to attract local talent and provide them with job opportunities. Developing the skills of young Saudi men and women in the tourism industry will be realized in accordance with the highest international standards, and by making use of global partnerships through the World Tourism Organization (WTO) and the rest of the international partners in the universities and tourism academies,” he said.
Al-Khateeb explained that the strategy struggles hard to support medium and small enterprises in developing their businesses as well as add to creating job opportunities that would boost up national economy.
“The development of skills for young Saudi men and women in the fields of the tourism industry will be in line with the highest international standards.”
