Saudi Arabia tourism triples, hosts nearly 8 million visitors worldwide during first quarter of 2023 – All Arab News
Saudi Arabia tourism triples, hosts nearly 8 million visitors worldwide ... All Arab News
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Tourism Revenues in Saudi Arabia Tripled in Q1 2023
Tourism revenues in Saudi Arabia tripled during the first quarter of 2023, reaching about $9.86 billion, according to the state-run Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
Significant Increase in Tourists
The Saudi Kingdom has recovered significantly since the COVID pandemic, hosting approximately 7.8 million tourists during the first quarter of the year, according to the SPA report. That number represents a 64% increase in the number of tourists so far in 2023, compared to the pre-COVID record year in 2019.
Efforts to Boost Tourism Sector
The SPA reported that the dramatic increase in tourism revenue follows the Saudi Tourism Ministry’s “efforts to boost the tourism sector and its contribution to the growth of the national economy, which corresponds to the objectives of the National Tourism Development Strategy.”
Reducing Dependence on Oil Exports
The conservative Middle East kingdom also hopes to expand tourism as part of a larger effort to reduce its dependence on oil exports. Riyadh envisions the growing tourism sector to eventually contribute approximately 17% of the country’s total GDP by 2032.
Pandemic No Longer Affecting Tourism
In June, Saudi Tourism Minister Ahmed Al-Khateeb told a forum of international investors that the pandemic was no longer affecting tourism in the kingdom.
“The pandemic is behind us … we will grow fast this year, we’re optimistic,” Al-Khateeb stated at the time.
Potential Boost from Abraham Accords
The historic Abraham Accords could potentially give an additional boost to the Saudi tourism sector if a Saudi-Israeli normalization is implemented, allowing Israeli tourists to officially enter the kingdom.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently praised Saudi Arabia for hosting 128 Israeli travelers onboard an Air Seychelles flight, when the pilot made an emergency landing in the nation’s capital of Jeddah after the aircraft experienced technical difficulties.
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SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth | Target 8.9: By 2030, devise and implement policies to promote sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products | No specific indicators mentioned in the article |
| SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production | Target 12.8: By 2030, ensure that people everywhere have the relevant information and awareness for sustainable development and lifestyles in harmony with nature | No specific indicators mentioned in the article |
| SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals | Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private, and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships | No specific indicators mentioned in the article |
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
The issues highlighted in the article are connected to SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals.
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
Based on the article’s content, the specific targets that can be identified are:
- Target 8.9: By 2030, devise and implement policies to promote sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products
- Target 12.8: By 2030, ensure that people everywhere have the relevant information and awareness for sustainable development and lifestyles in harmony with nature
- Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private, and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
No specific indicators are mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets.
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Source: allarab.news
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