How Saudi Arabia Is Transforming Its Tourism Sector With One Hundred Forty-Seven Thousand New Jobs And Unprecedented Workforce Training Programmes – Travel And Tour World

Report on Saudi Arabia’s Tourism Sector Workforce Development and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

This report outlines the strategic initiatives undertaken by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to develop its tourism sector workforce, in alignment with Vision 2030 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The primary focus is on the Human Resources Development Fund (HADAF) and its role in job creation, training, and ensuring long-term economic sustainability.

Strategic Job Creation and Economic Growth (SDG 8)

Saudi Arabia has made significant progress in promoting sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all, as outlined in SDG 8. Between 2020 and mid-2025, HADAF successfully facilitated the entry of 147,000 Saudi nationals into the tourism industry.

Key Initiatives Supporting SDG 8:

• Workforce Localisation: The integration of 147,000 nationals directly addresses the goal of creating decent job opportunities and reducing unemployment within the local population.
• Employer Incentives: To stimulate job creation and retention, HADAF provides wage subsidies to employers. This program covers up to 50% of a Saudi national’s salary, with a monthly cap of SR3,000, directly encouraging businesses to hire and maintain local talent.
• Employment Sustainability: The initiatives have resulted in an employment sustainability rate of 75%, indicating the creation of stable, long-term career opportunities rather than temporary positions, which is a core component of decent work.

Investment in Quality Education and Lifelong Learning (SDG 4)

The Kingdom’s strategy emphasizes ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all, a central tenet of SDG 4. HADAF’s investment in training and skills development is a cornerstone of this approach.

Educational and Training Programs:

1. Skills Development Investment: HADAF has invested over SR851 million in targeted training programs, creating opportunities for more than 8,450 trainees to acquire industry-relevant skills.
2. Professional Certification: To formalize skills and enhance career progression, HADAF has facilitated the issuance of 22 distinct industry certifications, providing workers with recognized qualifications.
3. Accessible E-Learning: The introduction of 12 specialized e-learning courses on the Doroob platform promotes lifelong learning by allowing participants to upskill flexibly and at their own pace, increasing access to quality vocational training.

Partnerships for Sustainable Development (SDG 17)

The success of the workforce development program is underpinned by strong collaborations, reflecting the principles of SDG 17, which calls for strengthening the means of implementation and revitalizing global partnerships for sustainable development.

Collaborative Framework:

• Strategic Agreements: HADAF has established 19 strategic agreements with leading companies and stakeholders within the tourism industry.
• Industry Alignment: These partnerships ensure that training curricula are directly aligned with the evolving needs of the tourism market, guaranteeing that trainees acquire practical and in-demand skills.
• Public-Private Synergy: The coordinated efforts between a government fund (HADAF) and private sector employers exemplify an effective public-private partnership model for achieving national development and SDG targets.

Conclusion: A Sustainable and Inclusive Future

Saudi Arabia’s approach to developing its tourism workforce is a comprehensive model that integrates economic objectives with key Sustainable Development Goals. By focusing on job creation (SDG 8), quality education (SDG 4), and strategic partnerships (SDG 17), the Kingdom is building a skilled, localized, and resilient workforce. This strategy not only supports the rapid expansion of the tourism sector as part of Vision 2030 but also establishes a foundation for a diversified, sustainable, and socially inclusive economy for the future.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in Saudi Arabia’s Tourism Sector

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 4: Quality Education

  The article highlights a strong focus on education and skills development. It mentions “strategic training,” “skills development,” “12 specialised e-learning courses on the Doroob platform,” and the issuance of “22 industry certifications.” These initiatives are designed to equip Saudi nationals with the necessary skills for employment in the tourism sector, directly aligning with the goal of ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities.

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

  This is the most prominent SDG in the article. The entire initiative is centered on promoting sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work. The creation of “147,000 new jobs” for nationals, efforts to ensure “employment sustainability now reaching an impressive 75%,” and the positioning of the tourism sector as a “key pillar of the economy” are direct contributions to this goal.

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

  The article emphasizes the collaborative approach taken to achieve these workforce development goals. It explicitly states that the Human Resources Development Fund (HADAF) leveraged “strategic partnerships” and signed “19 strategic agreements” with an investment of “over SR851 million.” This highlights the importance of public-private partnerships between government funds and “leading tourism companies” to achieve sustainable development.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Targets under SDG 4 (Quality Education)

   • Target 4.4: By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship. The article directly addresses this by describing how HADAF facilitates “the issuance of 22 industry certifications” and has introduced “12 specialised e-learning courses” to help workers “upskill” and gain “relevant skills” for the tourism industry.

2. Targets under SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth)

   • Target 8.5: By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men. The program’s success in enabling “147,000 nationals to join the industry” and providing “long-term career opportunities” is a clear effort towards achieving productive employment for the local population.
   • Target 8.9: By 2030, devise and implement policies to promote sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products. The article’s core theme is the implementation of a policy to build a “sustainable and skilled tourism workforce” and create jobs, which is the central aim of this target.

3. Targets under SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals)

   • Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships. The article provides a concrete example of this target in action through the “19 strategic agreements” and “partnerships between HADAF and leading tourism companies” to develop the tourism workforce.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article provides several quantitative and qualitative indicators that can be used to measure progress:

1. Indicators for SDG 4 (Quality Education)

   • Number of trainees in programs: The article states that the initiatives created opportunities for “more than 8,450 trainees.”
   • Number of professional certifications issued: Progress is measured by the “issuance of 22 industry certifications.”
   • Availability of vocational e-learning resources: The creation of “12 specialised e-learning courses on the Doroob platform” serves as an indicator of increased access to skill-building resources.

2. Indicators for SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth)

   • Number of jobs created for nationals: The primary indicator is the “147,000 Saudi nationals entering the industry between 2020 and mid-2025.”
   • Job retention/sustainability rate: The effectiveness of the programs is measured by the “employment sustainability now reaching an impressive 75%.”
   • Financial incentives for employment: The provision of “wage subsidies, covering up to 50% of salaries for eligible workers” is a key policy indicator.

3. Indicators for SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals)

   • Number of partnerships established: The article specifies “a series of 19 strategic agreements.”
   • Financial investment in partnerships: The total investment is quantified as “over SR851 million.”

4. Summary of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: travelandtourworld.com