Saudi Arabia to Establish Marketing Tourism Offices

The Saudi Tourism Authority has set 24 plans that place Saudi Arabia as a top tourist destination on the local, regional, and global levels.
Last week, the Council of Ministers, headed by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz, approved the regulations of the Saudi Tourism Authority to play a crucial role in promoting Saudi Arabia as a top tourist destination on both regional and international levels.
- Establishing a database
According to the regulation, a copy of which was seen by Asharq Al-Awsat, the Authority achieved its goals in developing the necessary plans and policies for tourism marketing in the Kingdom, locally and internationally.
It must also promote destinations, propose developments in coordination with the Ministry of Tourism, and support and market events held by government agencies and the private sector.
The Authority will create a database of all available sites, tourist destinations, resorts, services, and events and update it periodically with the relevant authorities.
It will also be tasked with all Umrah-related promotions, including the development and management of its platform, in coordination with the relevant agencies.

Furthermore, the Authority will develop the necessary standards, tools, and mechanisms to measure visitor's experience and determine the priorities and challenges facing tourists. Reports will be shared with the Ministry.
The Authority will propose the necessary designs, policies, and procedures to prepare the development of tourist sites and destinations that need rehabilitation and submit them to the Ministry of Tourism.
- Marketing studies and research
Moreover, the Authority will work with the private sector to develop products and display them on platforms for local and global marketing.
It will prepare marketing studies and research on opportunities to develop the visitor experience in the Kingdom and cooperate with regional and international bodies and organizations.
The Authority must carry out marketing campaigns inside and outside the Kingdom to introduce tourism sites and products and register trademarks and any other intellectual property in its name, in accordance with the relevant regulations.
According to the new regulation, the Authority will develop media plans that support tourism marketing to be disseminated inside and outside the Kingdom.
It will also organize tourism forums, conferences, events, and exhibitions and participate.
- Small and medium enterprises
The Authority is scheduled to provide administrative, technical, and advisory assistance to tourism products' owners in the Kingdom and support small and medium enterprises in cooperation with the competent authorities.
It will also develop and implement training programs aimed at raising the efficiency of tourism marketing and contribute to the qualification and training of human cadres in this field.
Under the new regulations, the Authority will supervise media campaigns and advertisements promoting destinations and suggest investment opportunities that are required to improve the sector in the Kingdom.
It coordinates with the Ministry of Tourism, government agencies, and the private sector to develop a marketing policy for destinations and distribute tourism products outside the Kingdom to enhance the country's position as a global tourist destination.
- Tourist tracks

The Authority will determine the tourist tracks under the tourism sector strategy, in coordination with the Ministry, to ensure an experience consistent with the highest global standards.
The Minister of Tourism and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Tourism Authority, Ahmed al-Khateeb, said the approval of the Authority's regulations confirms the government's continued support to achieve the goals consistent with Vision 2030.
Khateeb emphasized that the significant growth witnessed by the Saudi Tourism Authority is a direct result of the Saudi leadership's commitment to organizing and supporting the tourism sector in general and the Authority in particular.
The Minister stressed that the leadership's support has also helped attract visitors worldwide, develop tourism products, empower the private tourism sector, and participate in the most important local and international tourism forums and events.
He asserted that this alignment with the Kingdom's Vision 2030 is a significant milestone for the tourism sector in Saudi Arabia.

For decades, Saudi Arabia heavily relied on traditional energy sources as a cornerstone of its national energy mix. This reliance led to significant fossil fuel consumption and a rise in carbon emissions. Despite the Kingdom’s abundant natural resources in solar and wind energy, previous investments in these renewable sources were not scaled to their full potential.

However, with the launch of Vision 2030, a transformative shift began. Diversifying energy sources became a strategic priority for achieving environmental sustainability and reducing carbon emissions. Saudi Arabia introduced the National Renewable Energy Program and the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Initiative for Renewable Energy. According to the Vision 2030 Report for 2024, these initiatives have significantly accelerated the diversification of the national energy portfolio.

Under these frameworks, Saudi Arabia has achieved notable milestones in the renewable energy sector, including setting a global record for the lowest cost of electricity production from solar and wind energy. The Kingdom has also begun implementing sustainable transportation solutions utilizing hydrogen, while actively supporting the broader transition to a low-carbon energy future.

As part of these efforts, Saudi Arabia has taken practical steps to develop hydrogen-powered transportation solutions and to expand its reliance on low-carbon energy sources. These initiatives are aimed at ensuring the long-term sustainability of the Kingdom’s energy resources, thereby advancing sustainable development and supporting the creation of a thriving green economy.

In the field of energy storage, Saudi Arabia now ranks among the world’s top ten markets. Current projects provide 26 gigawatts of storage capacity, with a target of reaching 48 gigawatts by 2030. Among these projects is the Bisha Energy Storage Project, one of the largest of its kind in the Middle East and Africa, boasting a capacity of 2,000 megawatt-hours and housing 488 state-of-the-art battery containers.

The Kingdom has also made significant advancements in the conventional energy sector. Two new oil fields and two unconventional reservoirs were discovered in the Eastern Province, reinforcing Saudi Arabia’s standing as a leading global energy supplier. These new discoveries produce approximately 11,437 barrels per day of Arabian oil and 9.39 million standard cubic feet per day of associated gas.

In addition, two natural gas fields and two reservoirs were discovered in the Empty Quarter, yielding 140 barrels per day of condensates and 19.5 million standard cubic feet per day of associated gas.

Saudi Arabia to Establish Marketing Tourism Offices