Regional leaders unveil tourism vision at Arabian Hotel Investment Conference

Saudi Arabia

HRH Prince Sultan bin Salman Al Saud, secretary general of the Supreme Commission for Tourism in Saudi Arabia unveiled a series of initiatives that aim to spur domestic travel in particular, announcing a new regional structure of tourism boards and a joint national marketing campaign as well as the launch of the first tourism and investment conference in the country next March.

He said the focus would remain on family tourism, with the aim to change the mindset of national travellers that they had to leave their own country for holidays.

"Tourism can be fun, energetic and adventurous," he said, referring to his own eight-day exploration of Saudi Arabia piloting a glider aircraft for a television programme that will be aired on the Discovery Channel.

"We are keen on the environment, social sustainability and want to introduce new hotel products to enable domestic tourists to explore opportunities in the countryside."

Among the other initiatives announced by Prince Sultan was the construction of the first two of five new tourism destinations on the Red Sea; a string of new museums and a programme to encourage visitors; a new grading system for hotels that will be implemented next year; renovation of heritage villages; a programme to foster handicraft skills; the licensing of between 10 and 15 tour operators next month, and the renovation of historic sites in four Red Sea ports, as well as Riyadh.

"We are applying for UNESCO World Heritage status for three sites, including old Jeddah and the southern Nabataean sites," he added.

Abu Dhabi

For Abu Dhabi, chairman of the tourism authority ADTA, HH Shaikh Sultan bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan said that the emirate was now ready to move from the drawing board to realise its vision for tourism development at a controlled pace.

"We are trying to differentiate our tourism product through promoting a cultural offering, focusing on the cultural district of Sa'adiyat Island that is the biggest complex of its kind in the world," he said.

"There is a cultural gap between this region and other regions of the world, and we hope to bridge that gap with this development."

Shaikh Sultan also noted the announcement of the Desert Islands project that was focused on eight islands around the existing Bani Yas nature reserve, initiated by the late Sheikh Zayed: "This will be an eco tourism destination with a wildlife component that will include efforts to protect marine life such as dugongs and turtles," he added.

Ras Al Khaimah

For Ras Al Khaimah, chairman of the free zone, HH Shaikh Faisal bin Saqr Al Qasimi said that while the emirate was new to the tourism market, the authorities there were determined to succeed through the creation and promotion of a resort destination that was different and unique.

"We will base developments around natural attractions from the mountains to desert and beach, and will maintain our heritage as well as preserving an element of space and privacy to attract visitors," he said.

"We are targeting a value for money advantage for Ras Al Khaimah with a diverse range of five-, four- and three-star hotels, and aim to offer direct flights to Ras Al Khaimah international airport when we reach critical mass in numbers."

Unifying theme

Concluding the sessions, Shaikh Sultan said there was a unifying theme with each destination's plans to protect and capitalise on local culture: "The social fabric of society needs to be kept intact, allowing visitors a taste and helping them to learn more about our history, culture and society."