Saudi tourism industry adds 147,000 local workers in five years – Indiatimes

Report on Saudi Arabia’s Tourism Workforce Development and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Executive Summary

This report outlines the achievements of Saudi Arabia’s Human Resources Development Fund (HADAF) in advancing the national workforce within the tourism sector, in direct alignment with Saudi Vision 2030 and key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Between 2020 and mid-2025, HADAF successfully facilitated the employment of 147,000 Saudi nationals in tourism, underscoring a strategic commitment to sustainable economic growth, quality education, and multi-stakeholder partnerships.

Contribution to SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

HADAF’s initiatives directly support SDG 8 by promoting sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all. Key outcomes contributing to this goal include:

• Job Creation: 147,000 Saudi nationals have been integrated into the tourism sector, bolstering the domestic employment engine.
• Employment Stability: A high employment sustainability rate of 75% has been achieved among supported workers, signaling effective job matching and long-term role continuity.
• Financial Incentives: Wage subsidies for employers, covering up to 50% of salaries (capped at SR3,000 per month), have been enhanced to incentivize the hiring of national talent and support job stability.

Advancements in SDG 4: Quality Education and Skills Development

The program places significant emphasis on SDG 4 by ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities through targeted training and skills development. This is evidenced by:

1. Targeted Training Programs: HADAF has committed over SR851 million to 19 specialized employment-linked training agreements, targeting more than 8,450 trainees to build a skilled national talent pipeline.
2. Digital Learning Accessibility: Access to skills development has been expanded through the launch of 12 specialized e-learning programs on the Doroob platform, promoting skills mobility.
3. Professional Credentialing: Workforce capabilities have been strengthened through the enablement of 22 industry-recognized professional certifications, aligning skills with sector demands.

Fostering SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

The success of the initiative is rooted in a coordinated model that exemplifies SDG 17, which calls for strengthening the means of implementation and revitalizing global partnerships for sustainable development. Key partnership elements include:

• Public-Private Collaboration: Strategic partnerships have been formed between HADAF and various tourism companies and operators to align training with industry needs.
• Coordinated Workforce Strategy: The collaboration reflects Saudi Arabia’s workforce localization priorities, ensuring that structured upskilling and sector-readiness programs are effectively implemented to support the scaling tourism economy ahead of Vision 2030 targets.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

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

   The article highlights issues and initiatives that are directly connected to the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

   • SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth – The core focus of the article is on job creation, employment for Saudi nationals, and boosting the tourism sector, which are central themes of SDG 8.
   • SDG 4: Quality Education – The article emphasizes training, skills development, professional certifications, and e-learning programs, all of which are key components of SDG 4, particularly in the context of vocational and lifelong learning for employment.
   • SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals – The success of the initiative is attributed to “strategic partnerships” between the government fund (HADAF) and private sector “tourism companies and operators,” which directly reflects the principles of SDG 17.

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

   Based on the article’s content, the following specific targets can be identified:

   • Under SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth):
     • Target 8.5: “By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all…” The article’s focus on facilitating the entry of “147,000 Saudi nationals into tourism sector jobs” and ensuring “sustained job placement” directly supports this target of achieving productive employment for the national workforce.
     • Target 8.9: “By 2030, devise and implement policies to promote sustainable tourism that creates jobs…” The entire initiative described is a policy in action to create jobs specifically within the tourism sector, making this target highly relevant.
   • 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 details efforts like “19 specialised employment-linked training agreements,” “22 industry certifications,” and “12 specialised e-learning programmes” which are all aimed at providing Saudi nationals with relevant vocational skills for the tourism industry.
   • Under SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals):
     • Target 17.17: “Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships…” The article explicitly mentions the “coordinated model between HADAF and the tourism industry” and “strategic partnerships with tourism companies and operators” as the mechanism for achieving its goals. This is a clear example of a public-private partnership to achieve development objectives.

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:

   • For SDG 8 Targets (8.5 and 8.9):
     • Number of jobs created: The article states that “147,000 Saudi nationals” entered tourism jobs, serving as a direct indicator of employment creation.
     • Employment retention rate: The mention of “sustainability rates now reaching 75% among supported workers” is a key indicator of job quality and stability.
     • Financial incentives for hiring: The “wage subsidies for employers, with support covering up to 50% of salaries” is an indicator of the policy measures being implemented to promote employment.
   • For SDG 4 Target (4.4):
     • Number of trainees: The agreements are “targeting over 8,450 trainees,” which measures the number of people acquiring new skills.
     • Investment in training: The value of the agreements, “more than SR851 million,” indicates the financial commitment to skills development.
     • Number of training programs and certifications: The creation of “22 industry certifications” and “12 specialised e-learning programmes” are indicators of the expansion of vocational training opportunities.
   • For SDG 17 Target (17.17):
     • Number of partnership agreements: The article specifies “19 specialised employment-linked training agreements,” which is a concrete indicator of the number of public-private partnerships established.

Summary of Findings

Source: hrme.economictimes.indiatimes.com