For many Saudis, the tourism and hospitality sectors aren’t always the top choice when deciding their career path. Instead, many consider more traditional options like a doctor, lawyer or engineer.
Abeer Aljanahi from The Red Sea Development Company shared her insights regarding considering a future in tourism.
Aljanahi said that she applied to the University of Utah through the King Abdullah Scholarship program, she was still undecided about the career path that she wanted to opt for. She came across a class on hospitality management and sustainable tourism and realized thereafter that there are ways to assist people without having a medical degree.
Through her degree studies, Aljanahi had great opportunities to work with people from all walks of life, cultures and backgrounds and became confident that she wanted to work in the hospitality industry. Her studies opened up a range of job opportunities for her – Aljanahi did everything from working as a manager at a start-up, to gaining a place on the Elite Graduate Program at The Red Sea Development Company where she witnessed changes taking place in Saudi Arabia each day.
Aljanahi came to know that there are many ways where one can work as a guide, provide unique experiences for others, or deliver excellent customer service. She said that she is not the only one to realize the range of new opportunities available in Saudi Arabia’s new era of tourism, and it’s truly encouraging to see more people getting involved in the industry.
