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Saudi Arabia's Production of Coffee Exceeds 800 Tons Annually

The Kingdom has achieved the inclusion of coffee on the UNESCO list of intangible cultural heritage. - SPA
The Kingdom has achieved the inclusion of coffee on the UNESCO list of intangible cultural heritage. - SPA
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Saudi Arabia's Production of Coffee Exceeds 800 Tons Annually

The Kingdom has achieved the inclusion of coffee on the UNESCO list of intangible cultural heritage. - SPA
The Kingdom has achieved the inclusion of coffee on the UNESCO list of intangible cultural heritage. - SPA

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is among the top 10 countries in the world in terms of coffee consumption, leading the government to show keen interest in this product by adopting various initiatives and programs to foster coffee cultivation, SPA reported.
The Kingdom currently produces more than 400,000 Arabica coffee trees, yielding over 800 tons annually, from the regions of Jazan, Aseer, and Al-Baha, with the sector development plan aiming to plant 1.2 million coffee trees by 2026.
On the occasion of International Coffee Day, celebrated every year on October 1st, the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture affirmed that the Kingdom hosts more than 2,535 coffee farms in the Southern Region, including over 500 model coffee farms.
The ministry stressed its commitment to work on increasing coffee production as part of crops with high economic returns.
The ministry aims to make 15 provinces in the southwestern part of the Kingdom a significant source of Saudi Arabian coffee, specifically the Arabica type known for its quality compared to other types. This effort aims to boost coffee production in the Kingdom in support of the national economy, in line with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.
The ministry also emphasized the launch of several initiatives and programs to develop coffee cultivation, including the support provided by the Sustainable Agricultural Rural Development Program (REF) to enhance the production, manufacturing, and marketing of Arabica coffee.
Additionally, the Ministry has signed an investment agreement for the establishment of the Kingdom's first coffee city.
The Kingdom has achieved the inclusion of coffee on the UNESCO list of intangible cultural heritage.
With the support directed by the wise leadership, the term "Saudi Coffee" replaced "Arabic Coffee," and the Year of Saudi Coffee was commemorated in 2022.
Moreover, the Public Investment Fund (PIF) has been directed to launch the Saudi Coffee Company to invest in this vital sector, given its special significance among Saudis and the Kingdom's guests.

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Fire, Smoke Upend Western Canada’s Summer Tourism Season

A helicopter works a forest fire outside of Jasper, Alberta, Canada, on Friday July 26, 2024. (Reuters)
A helicopter works a forest fire outside of Jasper, Alberta, Canada, on Friday July 26, 2024. (Reuters)
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Fire, Smoke Upend Western Canada’s Summer Tourism Season

A helicopter works a forest fire outside of Jasper, Alberta, Canada, on Friday July 26, 2024. (Reuters)
A helicopter works a forest fire outside of Jasper, Alberta, Canada, on Friday July 26, 2024. (Reuters)

Severe wildfire seasons are increasingly hurting western Canada's lucrative tourism industry, with some visitors beginning to avoid the busy late-summer months due to concerns about uncontrolled blazes, smoke-filled skies and road closures.

After a scorching start to July, nearly 600 wildfires are now ablaze across British Columbia and Alberta, including a huge fire that this week devastated the picturesque tourist town of Jasper in the Canadian Rockies.

Dozens of communities, including popular holiday spots in British Columbia's Kootenay region, are under evacuation orders and several highways are closed.

This year's surge in wildfire activity comes after Canada endured its worst-ever year for wildfires in 2023, when more than 15 million hectares (37 million acres) burned, including parts of the city of West Kelowna in the heart of British Columbia's wine region.

Ellen Walker-Matthews, head of the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association, said the industry was seeing a lot more last-minute travel decisions instead of booking in advance.

"It's a huge blow. July and August are traditionally the busiest months in the region," said Walker-Matthews, adding that while her region has been relatively unscathed by wildfires this summer, some visitors are choosing to avoid interior British Columbia altogether.

The members of the British Columbia Lodging and Campgrounds Association are reporting a 5-15% drop in bookings from a year ago, with the biggest declines coming from the hotter Okanagan and Cariboo regions, said Joss Penny, who heads the association.

"The concern is that this is something we have to live with and we have it every year now," said Penny.

Although wildfires in Canada's forests are natural and common, scientists say drier, hotter conditions fueled by climate change are leading to more volatile and frequent blazes.

'SMOKEY SKIES'

Some events, like the Salmon Arm Roots and Blues Festival, usually held in August, have now been rescheduled to earlier in the summer to avoid what is now seen as peak smoke season. The festival, which was cancelled last year due to nearby wildfires, was this year moved to July to benefit from "less smokey skies."

Wildfires and extreme climatic events are prompting tourists to "change their plans not just temporarily, but permanently," said Elizabeth Halpenny, a tourism researcher and professor at the University of Alberta, noting that seasonal workers in the sector are often the hardest hit as they have few protections during a bad season or amid a cataclysmic fire.

Tourism contributed C$7.2 billion to the British Columbia economy in 2022, and C$9.9 billion to Alberta in 2023, according to the latest government data.

Jasper National Park is one of Canada's premier tourist destinations, with more than 2 million visitors a year flocking to see its pristine mountain landscapes and abundant wildlife, including grizzly bears, moose and elk.

Kelly Torrens, vice-president of product at international tour company Kensington Tours, described western Canada as a bucket-list destination. But the company now has 49 trips that were supposed to pass through Jasper this season in limbo. Six others were forced to evacuate the park when the fire hit.

Parks Canada has cancelled all camping reservations within Jasper National Park until Aug. 6 and with potentially 50% of the town's structures destroyed by fire, the cleanup and rebuild could take years.

Halpenny is among those hedging their bets.

"I've booked a campsite stay in the mountain parks but at the same time, I booked a campsite out on the prairie somewhere and that's my backup plan because I don't want to miss out on my vacation with my family."