(29/10/23) There are very few business sectors where the
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is not currently making huge waves, and
travel and tourism is no different.
The Kingdom has set itself some extremely
ambitious goals, aiming to welcome 100 million visitor arrivals by
2030, supported by an aviation strategy that includes US$100
billion in investment from the government and private sector.
In just the first three months of 2023, Saudi
Arabia reported a surplus in the balance of payments for travel
items of Saudi Riyal (SR) 22.8 billion (approximately US$6
billion), compared to a Q1 2022 deficit of SR1.6 billion
(approximately US$426.7 million).
Sultan Otaify, Vice President Strategy & Communication, Air Connectivity Program (ACP), Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Tourism has said that
the surplus was achieved thanks to around SR37 billion (US$9.868
billion) of incoming tourism revenue, an increase of about 225%
when compared to the first quarter of 2022, as per Saudi
Central Bank (SAMA) data.
This substantial increase in tourism revenue
reflects not only the global recovery in air travel post-Covid,
but also a culmination of the Kingdom’s many efforts to boost the
tourism sector and consequently the national economy.
The ambitious tourism strategy has advanced
the Kingdom 16 places in the international tourism revenue index,
with Saudi Arabia reaching 11th place globally in 2022, up from
27th in 2019, and advancing to 13th place in IATA’s Air
Connectivity index for 2023, up also from 27th.
The Kingdom welcomed about 7.8 million tourists
during the first quarter of 2023, achieving a growth of 64%
compared to the same period in 2019, the highest quarterly
performance thus far. That impressive statistic means that the
Kingdom achieved second place globally in the growth rate of
international tourists as per the World Tourism Organization’s
data issued in May 2023.
Managing such rapid growth is going to require
not only vision, but the ability for each sector to work seamlessly together
in achieving each other’s goals. One example of this is Saudi
Arabia’s Air Connectivity Program (ACP) which is already working
with local and international airlines in Europe, Asia,
North America and Africa.
To learn more about ACP and what role it plays in
helping Saudi Arabia to not only achieve, but potentially surpass
its tourism and aviation goals, Steven Howard of
TravelNewsAsia.com sat down with Sultan Otaify, ACP’s Vice
President Strategy & Communication, during the recent Routes World
2023 conference and exhibition in Istanbul, Türkiye.
In this interview, filmed on 17 October, Sultan
explains why ACP was attending Routes World, what they expected to
get out of the event, and what ACP brings to the table.
We discuss what goals Saudi Arabia has for 2024,
how the Kingdom is working to grow air connectivity, and how Saudi
Arabia is expanding visa facilitation.
Sultan also tells us about the airports in Saudi
Arabia, how they are making use of technology to enhance the
overall air travel experience, what development plans they have,
why being ‘China Ready’ is important, and what achieving their
aviation and tourism targets means to the Kingdom and people of
Saudi Arabia. All that and much more in the HD video and podcast
below.
Saudi Arabia’s Air Connectivity Program – Interview with Sultan Otaify, VP Strategy & Communication
PODCAST
Routes World 2024 will take place in Bahrain from 6 to 8 October.
See
Videos from Routes World 2023 in Istanbul, Türkiye, including:
Love The Philippines – Interview with Warner M. Andrada,
OIC-Assistant Secretary of Tourism Development, DOT Philippines,
Saudi Arabia’s Air Connectivity Program – Interview with Sultan
Otaify, VP Strategy & Communication,
Malaysia Airports Video Interview with Megat, Senior General
Manager – Strategy,
Skyscanner Interview with Michael Docherty, Commercial Director,
Airports in Sweden – Interview with Elizabeth Axtelius, Director
Aviation Business, Swedavia,
Singapore Changi Airport – Interview with Peh Ke-Wei, Vice
President of Passenger and Air Hub Development, Changi Airport
Group (CAG),
Airports in Scotland – Interview with Gary Cox, Director of
Aviation at Transport Scotland,
JFK T6 – Interview with Steve Thody, COO of JFK Millennium
Partners,
Tourism Malaysia Video Interview with Datuk Musa Bin Yusof of MTPB,
Mactan-Cebu International Airport in Philippines – Video Interview
with CEO, Julius Neri Jr.,
Helsinki Airport (HEL) – Interview with Ulla Lettijeff, SVP and
Director,
Suvarnabhumi Airport’s (BKK) New Satellite Terminal – Interview
with Paweena Jariyathitipong, Airports of Thailand,
Korea Airports Corporation – Video Interview with Soowan Seo,
Finavia Lapland – Interview with Jani Jolkkonen, SVP Airport
Network, and