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Saudi Arabia Puts More Emphasis on Boosting Tourism

Historical sites are attractive to tourists and a focal point for investment (AFP)
Historical sites are attractive to tourists and a focal point for investment (AFP)
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Saudi Arabia Puts More Emphasis on Boosting Tourism

Historical sites are attractive to tourists and a focal point for investment (AFP)
Historical sites are attractive to tourists and a focal point for investment (AFP)

Saudi Arabia’s tourism industry has been making strides over the past few years, as billion-dollar projects and initiatives were launched and major decisions, such as the Saudi Season initiative and the decisions to make tourist visas available. These strides have highlighted the country's major touristic potential, shedding light on the attractive destinations of its diverse regions.

The Kingdom aims for tourism to contribute from about 3% of GDP to 10% of GDP by 2030. The most recent initiative taken to this end was the establishment of the Tourism Development Fund, to which 15 billion Riyals (4 billion dollars) have been allocated to develop the private sector and encourage investment.

Earlier this week, the Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister, Chairman of the Council of Economic and Development Affairs, and Chairman of the Public Investment Fund Mohammad bin Salman Al-Saud agreed to the formation of the Tourism Development Fund’s board of directors. The board that is headed by Mr. Amed Al-Khateeb, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Tourism, includes Princess Haifa bint Mohammed Al-Saud, Muhammad Al-Omran, and Muhammad Al-Hawqal. The Council of Ministers approved the structure of the Tourism Development Fund during its most recent meeting this Tuesday.

Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, the experts emphasized the importance of this fund and said they were confident that it will strengthen Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector.

Nabeel Koshak, the CEO of Saudi Venture Capital Company, said that the fund is one of the many bodies that support the tourism industry system and its development by providing investment opportunities, stressing that it will incentivize local or international investment in this sector and small and medium enterprises, which he says are of significant importance because of the large number of people they employ.

Abdulaziz Al-Omran, an economic analyst, said tourist initiatives in Saudi Arabia, like those of Diriyah and Al-Ula, have been gaining increasing prominence, noting that they showcase the beauty of Saudi Arabia’s diverse cities, each of which has its unique characteristics.

These projects, in addition to the "hospitable" nature of Saudi society, make the kingdom a popular destination. He adds that the fund will stimulate investment in the tourism sector, which will create many jobs in the future, and its development is vital for continued job creation.

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Doctor at the Heart of Türkiye Newborn Baby Deaths Case Says He was a 'Trusted' Physician

A doctor takes the footprint of a newborn baby for his birth certificate at a private clinic in Ankara, October 16, 2011. The world's population will reach seven billion on October 31, according to projections by the United Nations. Picture taken October 16, 2011. REUTERS/Umit Bektas (Türkiye - Tags: SOCIETY HEALTH)
A doctor takes the footprint of a newborn baby for his birth certificate at a private clinic in Ankara, October 16, 2011. The world's population will reach seven billion on October 31, according to projections by the United Nations. Picture taken October 16, 2011. REUTERS/Umit Bektas (Türkiye - Tags: SOCIETY HEALTH)
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Doctor at the Heart of Türkiye Newborn Baby Deaths Case Says He was a 'Trusted' Physician

A doctor takes the footprint of a newborn baby for his birth certificate at a private clinic in Ankara, October 16, 2011. The world's population will reach seven billion on October 31, according to projections by the United Nations. Picture taken October 16, 2011. REUTERS/Umit Bektas (Türkiye - Tags: SOCIETY HEALTH)
A doctor takes the footprint of a newborn baby for his birth certificate at a private clinic in Ankara, October 16, 2011. The world's population will reach seven billion on October 31, according to projections by the United Nations. Picture taken October 16, 2011. REUTERS/Umit Bektas (Türkiye - Tags: SOCIETY HEALTH)

The Turkish doctor at the center of an alleged fraud scheme that led to the deaths of 10 babies told an Istanbul court Saturday that he was a “trusted” physician.

Dr. Firat Sari is one of 47 people on trial accused of transferring newborn babies to neonatal units of private hospitals, where they were allegedly kept for prolonged and sometimes unnecessary treatments in order to receive social security payments.

“Patients were referred to me because people trusted me. We did not accept patients by bribing anyone from 112,” Sari said, referring to Türkiye's emergency medical phone line.

Sari, said to be the plot’s ringleader, operated the neonatal intensive care units of several private hospitals in Istanbul. He is facing a sentence of up to 583 years in prison in a case where doctors, nurses, hospital managers and other health staff are accused of putting financial gain before newborns’ wellbeing, The AP reported.

The case, which emerged last month, has sparked public outrage and calls for greater oversight of the health care system. Authorities have since revoked the licenses and closed 10 of the 19 hospitals that were implicated in the scandal.

“I want to tell everything so that the events can be revealed,” Sari, the owner of Medisense Health Services, told the court. “I love my profession very much. I love being a doctor very much.”

Although the defendants are charged with the negligent homicide of 10 infants since January 2023, an investigative report cited by the state-run Anadolu news agency said they caused the deaths of “hundreds” of babies over a much longer time period.

Over 350 families have petitioned prosecutors or other state institutions seeking investigations into the deaths of their children, according to state media.

Prosecutors at the trial, which opened on Monday, say the defendants also falsified reports to make the babies’ condition appear more serious so as to obtain more money from the state as well as from families.

The main defendants have denied any wrongdoing, insisting they made the best possible decisions and are now facing punishment for unavoidable, unwanted outcomes.

Sari is charged with establishing an organization with the aim of committing a crime, defrauding public institutions, forgery of official documents and homicide by negligence.

During questioning by prosecutors before the trial, Sari denied accusations that the babies were not given the proper care, that the neonatal units were understaffed or that his employees were not appropriately qualified, according to a 1,400-page indictment.

“Everything is in accordance with procedures,” he told prosecutors in a statement.

The hearings at Bakirkoy courthouse, on Istanbul’s European side, have seen protests outside calling for private hospitals to be shut down and “baby killers” to be held accountable.

The case has also led to calls for the resignation of Health Minister Kemal Memisoglu, who was the Istanbul provincial health director at the time some of the deaths occurred. Ozgur Ozel, the main opposition party leader, has called for all hospitals involved to be nationalized.

In a Saturday interview with the A Haber TV channel, Memisoglu characterized the defendants as “bad apples” who had been “weeded out.”

“Our health system is one of the best health systems in the world,” he said. “This is a very exceptional, very organized criminal organization. It is a mistake to evaluate this in the health system as a whole.”

Memisoglu also denied the claim that he shut down an investigation into the claims in 2016, when he was Istanbul’s health director, calling it “a lie and slander.”

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said this week that those responsible for the deaths would be severely punished but warned against placing all the blame on the country’s health care system.

“We will not allow our health care community to be battered because of a few rotten apples,” he said.