Manila, Philippines (Karina Giorgenello).- After long hours of meetings at the Global Tourism Summit in Manila, Gloria Guevara took a few minutes to draw the first conclusions of the meeting and the future of world tourism. The best example of the path that the sector should take is in Saudi Arabia. The next meeting of global tourism mobilizers will take place there. Gloria Guevara, former CEO of the WTTC, is currently Chief Special Advisor to the Saudi Ministry of Tourism. Everything about the actions they carry out is revealing. Shortly before, Fahd Hamidaddin, CEO of the Saudi Arabian Tourism Authority, spoke at the closing of the Philippines SUMMIT.

"Saudi Arabia is undergoing an unprecedented transformation," says Gloria Guevara. Shortly before, in one of the panels in which the tourism leaders presented, Fahd Hamidaddin, Executive Director of the Saudi Arabian Tourism Authority, commented on some of the changes that Gloria Guevara refers to. “Until a few years ago, women could not drive, for example, and the reality is that the rapid transformation we are experiencing is something that has not been seen elsewhere. The good news is that this transformation is bringing many benefits and tourism is part of this transformation. In 2019, this opening and online visas allowed that in a few months and before Covid began, Saudi Arabia was the country that had the highest growth in tourism in all of 2019 according to WTTC figures, it was 14%, compared to the average that had been 3.5%".

Why is what is happening in Saudi Arabia important for our sector? Gloria Guevara asks herself.
"First, when a new destination develops, when a country invests in tourism there is a domino effect, it is not only good for Saudi Arabia but it is good for the entire sector worldwide. We are putting tourism on the agenda of the leaders, we are including tourism on the agenda of finance ministers, health ministers and in the financial system, especially because of the investments it attracts".

"Saudi Arabia is investing almost a trillion dollars, it's easy to say, but it's close to Mexico's gross domestic product, no more to compare it. It's an unprecedented figure, in my 30 years in the sector I have not seen an investment similar. Half of that is going to Neom, the futuristic eco-city megaproject that is part of Saudi Arabia's plan to become a green destination. It's a country within a country being created in the Northwest."

"Other destinations will be Oxagon, in the center of the country is the first fully sustainable industrial city, which will attract innovative scientists, talents and try everything new there. Also Trojena, a ski resort with views of the desert, which will be is opening soon in the mountains in Saudi Arabia.

"95 percent will be with protected areas. Underground connection roads, air taxis and everything you can imagine are planned."

"There are 7 or 8 more projects where they take a large part of the investment, such as Qiddiya, an entertainment city about 40 km from Riyadh, the size of the city of Paris. In this city, a formula track is being built. 1 and an amusement park. It's a 100% entertainment city, it's going to be the biggest entertainment city in the world."

"Another megaproject is Coral Bloom, a tourist complex in the Red Sea that includes 51 virgin islands with luxury hotels that will "merge" with the paradisiacal ecosystem of the area, protecting all the coral and reefs.
It has been many years since new destinations were opened, Saudi Arabia had been closed and protected."

"Investing in tourism has a ripple effect. Because the rest of the destinations are going to invest in tourism and they are seeing what is happening in Saudi Arabia. It is good for the destination and also for the system globally."

"We have a 2030 vision that is very relevant. Now we have a prince who is a young man. He started these projects at 31 and is now 35 years old, he is very energetic with a very clear vision that connects with the majority of the population of Arabia. It is known that 70% are 35 years old or younger."

"This transformation leads the country to be very sustainable, very innovative, very active. It is investing in many areas and is investing hard in tourism. It created the 2030 vision where it has a very relevant pillar of the tourism sector. We would like for 2030 that our GDP It will contribute 10 percent to tourism. A million jobs will be generated and an estimated 100 million annual visitors. We must remember that Saudi Arabia has received tourists in the past, but above all religious tourists. Our responsibility is to take care of the sites part of the country's responsibility is to take care of Mecca. Previously the visitors came, they fulfilled their obligation like every Muslim in the world who has an obligation to visit Mecca, but they were only allowed to go to those places. are giving them the opportunity to visit the rest of the country. These same religious pilgrims are becoming pleasure tourists. We have religious tourism, tourism of pleasure, business tourism since it has always been very important to hold congresses and conventions and many more things are happening in the country".

"Something very relevant is an initiative that has not been seen anywhere in the world and is something unprecedented. In 8 months or 32 weeks, a calendar of activities is defined where every week something happens, every week there are activities.
Today those who visit us the most, apart from the religious, are from the USA and Great Britain. There has been a very important growth in recent years, in the first quarter it has recovered much faster.

Saudi Arabia will host the next WTTC Global Tourism Summit

During the closing session of the Global Summit in Manila, the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) announced that the 22nd edition of the event will take place in Riyadh, capital of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, from 29 from November to December 2 this year.

Julia Simpson, WTTC President and CEO, said: "We look forward to our 22nd Global Summit later this year in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, to mark the next chapter in the sector's ongoing recovery."

The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Tourism assured that the next global tourism summit will be the most successful, which will help underpin the growth of the sector for the coming years.

Ahmed Al Khateeb, Minister of Tourism of Saudi Arabia, has been working hard and with great leadership for the realization of this event, as well as for the strengthening of tourism globally.

During the closing ceremony, Fahd Hamidaddin, CEO of the Tourism Authority of that country, said: "We are excited to welcome the world to experience the excitement and energy of KSA."