HRH Prince Sultan to head Saudi Arabian Travel Market delegation

Prince Sultan heads the influential Supreme Commission for Tourism (SCT) which has organised the Arabian Travel Market's first Saudi Arabian national pavilion in the ten years of the show.

The SCT will be at ATM with a blueprint to expand Saudi Arabia's tourist industry. This includes a plan to have the industry self-sufficient within five years. The country is already expanding travel privileges beyond the sacred sites for pilgrims.

HRH believes tourism could create up to 1.7 million jobs in the Kingdom over the next 20 years, many of which could be filled by Saudis.

Prince Sultan sees the development of an extensive and efficient tourism workforce as a priority, including offering incentives for nationals to work in the industry.

Prince Sultan, 46, a nephew of King Fahd, is the driving force behind Saudi Arabia's initiatives to bolster tourism.

Prince Sultan, a fighter pilot, became the first Arab crew member of a space shuttle when he joined the USA's Discovery in 1985.

At ATM, Prince Sultan and other senior SCT members will outline to an international media corps and travel trade professionals the commission's plan to "develop a feasible environment to see the tourism sector grow."

In addition to Prince Sultan, the delegation will also include HH Prince Abdulaziz bin Fahad bin Abdullah Al Saud, Deputy Secretary General SCT, as well as other high ranking SCT officials.

Prince Sultan said Saudi Arabia has boundless potential for those "wishing to experience a totally different culture."

The SCT has already formulated a "general and long-term" structure to develop Saudi Arabia's tourist industry. It has drafted a five-year plan, which begins this year, and contains strategic and development initiatives to boost the country's tourism sector.

"The SCT will work with government departments in various districts and the private sector to set up tourism organisations to develop a fully-fledged tourism industry," said Prince Sultan.

"This is done through choosing the best projects and carrying out studies - environmental, economic and others - to better market the industry and attract more visitors."

He is also keen to focus on "value tourism" where visitors to the country have "competitive prices, good facilities and first-class treatment from the moment they arrive until the minute they leave."

Prince Sultan cautioned the Kingdom must be conservative in its approach to tourism because of its role as the birthplace of Islam. However, he said, Saudi Arabia can still maintain a sound industry.

Last year Saudi Arabia approved a plan to allow Umrah pilgrims to travel across the Kingdom rather than confining them to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina.

Each year Saudi Arabia draws some two million outside visitors, the vast majority being moslems making the pilgrimage to Mecca.

Saudi Arabia boasts a surprisingly diverse topography. There's an abundance of desert - including the vast Empty Quarter in the south - but there are mountains, valleys and Red Sea beaches with turquoise water known for some of the world's best diving.

The country is also rich in archaeological sites, including the spectacular tombs and dwellings carved into sandstone 2,000 years ago by the Nabateans - the same lost civilisation that created Petra in neighbouring Jordan.

The Arabian Travel Market, the region's leading travel and tourism expo,' is organised by Reed Travel Exhibitions. It runs from May 6-9.