Articles tagged “riyadh”

Duty-free shopping may not sound like the most glamorous industry, but it's important to global travelers.

The partnership is one of the most notable for the Saudi Arabian startup, which is looking to launch its first flights next year.

Saudi Arabia witnessed a 50% increase in Indian visitors in 2023. Now, it is ramping up its efforts to meet its ambitious target of 7.5 million Indian visitors over the next seven years.

It's not surprising that the Middle East is prioritizing hotel development to accommodate a growing influx of tourists. This proactive approach aligns with their broader economic and tourism strategies to foster long-term growth and competitiveness in the global tourism market.

Asfar's launch aligns with the Saudi sovereign fund’s broad strategy, which is centered around tapping opportunities within the tourism sector and building strategic partnerships with private companies.

As countries in the Middle East set ambitious tourism targets for the future, Saudi Arabia is investing in infrastructure to drive numbers, while Dubai is investing in technology to adopt "Smart Gates" at Dubai airport and looking to make air taxis a reality.

Saudi Arabia's latest move to offer financial subsidy to carriers to connect its lesser-known destinations to global cities definitely speaks volumes about its intent to woo 100 million tourists a year by 2030.

With a goal to attract 100 million tourists a year by 2030, Saudi Arabia realizes that it will have to promote itself aggressively as a leisure destination. A trillion dollars looks pretty aggressive.

Far from sheltering female guests, women-only floors are about giving them a level and particular quality of service that male business travelers have enjoyed forever.

As the site of the world's most attended event, Saudi Arabia has some catch up to do to make room for all its guests -- especially as the growing wealth of its pilgrims lead them to expect more.