Tourism projects worth more than SR3.5 billion ($932m) have been approved for Al Ahsa in Saudi Arabia, the Saudi Press Agency reports.
Saudi Arabia has committed the $932m investment to develop 17 tourism projects in the region, positioning it as a key destination in the kingdom’s growing travel sector.
The plans were outlined by Saudi Arabia’s tourism minister Ahmed Al Khateeb during a meeting with investors and entrepreneurs in the governorate as part of his tour across the kingdom.
The Al Ahsa projects will add more than 1,800 hotel rooms to the region, also leveraging its natural and cultural assets to attract domestic and international visitors.
Saudi tourism investments
The Al Ahsa plans align with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which aims to attract 150 million visits annually by 2030, and increase the tourism sector’s contribution to Saudi Arabia’s GDP from 6 percent to 10 percent.
One major project is from Saudi Entertainment Ventures (Seven), which is investing $13bn in the development of 21 entertainment destinations in 14 Saudi cities, including Al Ahsa.
From Qiddiya to Neom, Saudi Arabia is creating a host of giga-projects and attractions as part the Public Investment Fund’s (PIF) Vision 2030, designed to diversify the economy and reduce the kingdom’s reliance on oil.Â
Earlier this month, Nadhmi al-Nasr left his role as CEO of Neom, Saudi Arabia‘s $500bn giga-project, in a major shakeup of the leadership team.
Later, the kingdom unveiled new multibillion-dollar education and arts districts within the $63.2bn Diriyah giga-project on the outskirts of Riyadh.
Image via UNESCO
