The Red Sea project announced by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman between “the cities of Umluj and Al-Wajh” embodies the Kingdom’s strong tendency towards diversifying national income sources, not relying on oil as the only source of income, expanding the economic base that qualifies it to eliminate the rentier economy, and assume a prominent position on A map of investments and companies with specific areas in the global economic system.
The project, which exploits 50 islands in the Red Sea, works to meet the desires and needs of the future generation for entertainment, tourism, cultural, and social, and promotes global investments towards the Saudi economy; This supports the Kingdom's position as an important global center in attracting foreign investments, and enabling the Kingdom to be on the top of the best countries for beach tourism.
The project is considered one of the tributaries of tourism and entertainment development in the country, which qualifies us to move forward towards working to give cities an international competitive ability in accordance with the Saudi Vision 2030, and to develop entertainment centers, and encourage investors from inside and outside the Kingdom to establish entertainment projects, and cooperate in this with well-known international companies in This field, especially since the Red Sea project abounds with beautiful and diverse natural sites in the world; To develop exceptional tourist resorts on more than 50 natural islands, a few distances from one of the natural reserves in Saudi Arabia and the dormant volcanoes in the "Harrat Al-Rahat" area, in addition to Mada'in Saleh, which is close to the project, which is considered one of the best historical places in the world. .
The Crown Prince’s announcement before the period of the “Qiddiya” project, southwest of the capital, Riyadh, as the largest cultural, sports and entertainment city of its kind in the world, also embodied the Kingdom’s directions and its mechanism of action during the next stage, in strengthening the economic and development aspects within society, and finding new sources of income.
There is no doubt that the two tourism projects, Qiddiya and the Red Sea, will put the Kingdom on the global tourism map and attract investments from international companies. What generates job opportunities for Saudi youth, and revitalizes the national economy in line with the directions of the wise leadership, led by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and His Highness the Crown Prince.
In this context, specialized economists confirmed to Okaz that the Red Sea project launched by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman will increase the number of tour guides to four thousand by 900%, compared to their current estimated number of 400 Saudi tour guides.
They expected the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage to reach that percentage in the next five years.
They indicated that the site on which the project was chosen attracts many divers looking for a hobby of exploring coral reefs.
They pointed out that the Red Sea project will lead to a reduction in the unemployment rate in Saudi Arabia, in light of providing about 35,000 expected job opportunities.
They indicated that the project will increase investment opportunities. Being the second project in the strategy of the Public Investment Fund in the tourism sector after the city of Qiddiya, it will contribute to preventing the escape of funds outside Saudi Arabia, in addition to its positive impact on many sectors such as the real estate sector and marine industries.
100 companies are preparing to invest
Mansour Al-Faqiri, head of the Saudi-Malaysian Business Council, told Okaz: “There are about 100 Malaysian companies looking to invest in Saudi tourism in general and invest in new projects that were launched from the Kingdom, such as the Qiddiya and Red Sea projects.”
He added: «The Red Sea project will provide many investment opportunities, especially in the field of boat operation and maintenance, and the project is expected to provide about 35,000 job opportunities. This will directly affect the unemployment rate in Saudi Arabia, in addition to creating great job opportunities in areas that were considered among the few jobs, such as fields and Umluj. This will reduce the movement of residents of these cities to major cities.
Increasing the contribution of tourism to the GDP
The economist Fadl Al-Buainain explained to Okaz that the investments of the Public Investment Fund have become the main driver of the tourism sector according to an integrated strategic vision, and the Red Sea project is the second project in the fund's strategy in the tourism sector after the city of Qiddiya, which came in a desert and mountainous environment.
He stated that the Public Investment Fund's pumping of qualitative investments in the tourism sector is in line with Saudi Vision 2030 from two aspects, the first is to pump 50% of the fund's assets internally, and the second is to achieve the goal of developing the tourism sector and raising its contribution to the gross domestic product.
He noted that the global project, which is taking place a few distances from one of the natural reserves in the Kingdom and the dormant volcanoes in the "Harrat Al-Rahat" area, will constitute a pioneering tourist destination that provides tourists with a unique opportunity to enjoy the wonderful weather and virgin nature, in addition to visiting the historical areas that abound in the Kingdom.
He stated that this project falls within the framework of the Kingdom's endeavor to diversify sources of income and not depend on oil, especially after the sharp decline in its prices in recent years.
Double the number of tour guides
Consultant and tourist guide trainer Khaled Al Touq told Okaz: “The number of tour guides licensed by the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage does not exceed 400, and this number does not serve the programs launched by Saudi Arabia, but I expect an increase in the number of tour guides in the Kingdom during The next five years to about four thousand licensed guides to work ».
For his part, a member of the Saudi Society for Economics, Dr. Abdullah Al-Maghlouth, stressed to “Okaz” the importance of the Red Sea project in being a quantum leap in the global tourism industry, especially since the project provides the possibility for visitors and tourists to enjoy the natural components in exploring the diversity of plant and animal life through the development of tourist resorts. Exceptional over 50 natural islands.
Al-Maghlouth added: “The project pushes the wheel of development and puts Saudi Arabia on the global tourism map, as the distinctive strategic location of the project, which connects Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Europe, is easily accessible, and the project will also limit the high rate of unemployment, and this is what the Saudi vision aims to achieve.” 2030, and the presence, support and participation of the Public Investment Fund in pumping and financing the initial investments for this project indicates complete conviction in the success of the studies, in line with international best practices in the field of tourism.
He continued: «I believe that this project possesses the standards that, if applied, would have become a face of tourism at the global level, but rather it will be reflected with the endeavor to attract and redirect Saudi tourism expenditures to the interior, and this project also attracts the world's leading names in the tourism and hospitality sector, and their localization within Saudi Arabia, and contributes to enhancing the culture of dealing, cooperation, and initiatives between these companies with their local counterparts.
Coasts and capabilities qualify for the summit
The head of one of the diving teams in Saudi Arabia, Faisal bin Hassan, told Okaz that the Red Sea is the largest sea in the world, containing coral reefs and diverse and attractive fish. Which is what many diving experts around the world are looking for; And it makes the Saudi diver not prefer to travel to some countries where diving is considered to be of a low level compared to the coasts that Saudi Arabia possesses and the huge capabilities that enable it to reach the summit in this field.
He said, "Divers in the past used to resort to going to many countries to practice this hobby, due to the availability of services, but after the launch of the project, the Saudi diver will be able to practice his hobby in the best sea in the world."
He added, "The Red Sea contains at least about 250 species of coral reefs, which will exploit these natural tourism resources and enable the Kingdom to be on the top of the best countries for beach tourism."
The Telegraph: The project is twice the size of Wales
Within the framework of the global echoes of the launch of the project, the British newspaper “The Telegraph” described the Red Sea project as “a plan to establish an effective tourism area nearly twice the size of the British province of Wales, on a pristine coast in the Red Sea, in an attempt to double the number of visitors for the purpose of recreational tourism.”
The newspaper indicated that Saudi officials hope that the new project will raise the country's parameters in the tourism and vacation industry. What drives its tourism economy away from the annual pilgrimage season.
She noted that visitors to the Kingdom may also be attracted by ancient historical sites and captivating deserts.
The American newspaper "Detroit News" considered that the project comes within the domestic tourism policy, which is a major part of the Vision 2030 strategic plan, which aims to diversify and modernize the economy, and includes plans to preserve some of the Saudi money that is spent abroad annually in the country.
It is noteworthy that the Red Sea project, which was launched by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman through 50 islands, seeks to exploit the wealth of Saudi Arabia by creating an ideal environment for marine and beach tourism, with its diversity of marine organisms, coral reefs and vast areas of mangroves on Umluj Beach, located in the region. Tabuk, in addition to that the project is considered one of the best diving sites in the world, and is characterized by soft white sands, warm waters, dormant volcanoes, rich marine life, and biodiversity.
The Red Sea project promotes its launch on special foundations and laws, as it is located on one of the most beautiful and diverse natural sites in the world, and is considered a major leap in the world of tourism through which the Kingdom seeks to compete in this internationally thriving field.
Mohammed Al Subhi (Jeddah) @mohammedalsobhi
