Riyadh Air, AlUla Partner to Promote Saudi Tourism Attractions Worldwide

AlUla entered into a strategic partnership with Riyadh Air. SPA
AlUla entered into a strategic partnership with Riyadh Air. SPA
TT

Riyadh Air, AlUla Partner to Promote Saudi Tourism Attractions Worldwide

AlUla entered into a strategic partnership with Riyadh Air. SPA
AlUla entered into a strategic partnership with Riyadh Air. SPA

AlUla entered into a strategic partnership with Riyadh Air, Saudi Arabia's new world-class airline that has announced an ambitious target to fly to over 100 destinations by 2030.
Under the partnership deal, which was signed on the sidelines of the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) in Dubai, AlUla and the Public Investment Fund-owned Riyadh Air will collaborate on multiple initiatives to raise the profile of AlUla and the new carrier to discerning travelers from across Saudi Arabia and around the globe. Ultimately, the partnership aims to increase tourist volumes to AlUla from key global markets.
"Today marks the start of an exciting new partnership for AlUla and Riyadh Air, which has already made a notable impact on the global aviation landscape, notwithstanding its status as a relatively new airline," said Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) vice president of destination management and marketing Rami AlMoallim.

"By working together, we can leverage the growing global excitement about AlUla as the Kingdom's premier luxury boutique heritage destination while also making a significant contribution to the Kingdom's broader tourism landscape."

Riyadh Air senior vice president of marketing and communications Osamah Alnuaiser said that as a major Saudi tourist destination, AlUla already offers such rich and unique experiences to visitors.

“At Riyadh Air, we have no doubt that we are both working towards a shared goal of increasing travelers' numbers to the Kingdom."
The cooperation between the two sides will see the delivery of multiple initiatives, including seamless and immersive digital experiences across multiple touch points. In addition, both entities will share and leverage data insights to produce refined content and product strategies for optimal campaign performance, enabling both sides to identify trends and behavioral patterns to produce data-driven decision making and strategies.



Saudi Arabia Sees 656% Surge in Leisure Tourism in 2024

File photo of Saudi flag/Asharq Al-Awsat
File photo of Saudi flag/Asharq Al-Awsat
TT

Saudi Arabia Sees 656% Surge in Leisure Tourism in 2024

File photo of Saudi flag/Asharq Al-Awsat
File photo of Saudi flag/Asharq Al-Awsat

The Saudi Ministry of Tourism said its sector, particularly the leisure and holiday segments, witnessed substantial growth, due in no small part to the Kingdom's Vision 2030 directives.
In a statement marking World Tourism Day, observed every year on September 27, the ministry said that the Kingdom welcomed 17.5 million international tourists between January and July 2024, a 10% increase over the same period in 2023 and a 73% increase compared to the 2019 figures, SPA reported.
Most striking is the 656% increase in the number of tourists arriving specifically for entertainment and holiday purpose. The ministry said that 4.2 million tourists arrived for these purposes in the first seven months of 2024, a 25% increase over the previous year and an enormous leap over pre-pandemic levels in 2019.
These impressive results highlight the success of the Kingdom's long-term tourism strategy, under Vision 2030, which seeks to transform Saudi Arabia into a global tourism destination. The Kingdom had set the goal of 100 million tourists by 2030, but achieved this milestone in 2023, seven years ahead of schedule.
Saudi Arabia was acknowledged as the fastest-growing G20 country in the latest UN World Tourism Barometer report. According to September report, Saudi Arabia leads both in the growth of international tourist numbers and in tourism revenues.
These figures underscore the Kingdom's strategic focus on developing a sustainable tourism sector, improving infrastructure, and promoting Saudi Arabia as a premier global destination.
The ministry's achievements reflect the effectiveness of these efforts and position the Kingdom as a key player in the field of global tourism.