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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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Israel Warfare Methods 'Consistent With Genocide', Says UN Committee

Israel's warfare practices in Gaza "are consistent with the characteristics of genocide", according to the United Nations Special Committee - AFP
Israel's warfare practices in Gaza "are consistent with the characteristics of genocide", according to the United Nations Special Committee - AFP
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Israel Warfare Methods 'Consistent With Genocide', Says UN Committee

Israel's warfare practices in Gaza "are consistent with the characteristics of genocide", according to the United Nations Special Committee - AFP
Israel's warfare practices in Gaza "are consistent with the characteristics of genocide", according to the United Nations Special Committee - AFP

Israel's warfare in Gaza is consistent with the characteristics of genocide, a special UN committee said Thursday, accusing the country of "using starvation as a method of war".

The United Nations Special Committee pointed to "mass civilian casualties and life-threatening conditions intentionally imposed on Palestinians", in a fresh report covering the period from Hamas's deadly October 7 attack in Israel last year through to July, AFP reported.

"Through its siege over Gaza, obstruction of humanitarian aid, alongside targeted attacks and killing of civilians and aid workers, despite repeated UN appeals, binding orders from the International Court of Justice and resolutions of the Security Council, Israel is intentionally causing death, starvation and serious injury," it said in a statement.

Israel's warfare practices in Gaza "are consistent with the characteristics of genocide", said the committee, which has for decades been investigating Israeli practices affecting rights in the occupied Palestinian territories.

Israel, it charged, was "using starvation as a method of war and inflicting collective punishment on the Palestinian population".

A UN-backed assessment at the weekend warned that famine was imminent in northern Gaza.

Thursday's report documented how Israel's extensive bombing campaign in Gaza had decimated essential services and unleashed an environmental catastrophe with lasting health impacts.

By February this year, Israeli forces had used more than 25,000 tonnes of explosives across the Gaza Strip, "equivalent to two nuclear bombs", the report pointed out.

"By destroying vital water, sanitation and food systems, and contaminating the environment, Israel has created a lethal mix of crises that will inflict severe harm on generations to come," the committee said.

The committee said it was "deeply alarmed by the unprecedented destruction of civilian infrastructure and the high death toll in Gaza", where more than 43,700 people have been killed since the war began, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory.

The staggering number of deaths raised serious concerns, it said, about Israel's use of artificial intelligence-enhanced targeting systems in its military operations.

"The Israeli military’s use of AI-assisted targeting, with minimal human oversight, combined with heavy bombs, underscores Israel’s disregard of its obligation to distinguish between civilians and combatants and take adequate safeguards to prevent civilian deaths," it said.

It warned that reported new directives lowering the criteria for selecting targets and increasing the previously accepted ratio of civilian to combatant casualties appeared to have allowed the military to use AI systems to "rapidly generate tens of thousands of targets, as well as to track targets to their homes, particularly at night when families shelter together".

The committee stressed the obligations of other countries to urgently act to halt the bloodshed, saying that "other States are unwilling to hold Israel accountable and continue to provide it with military and other support".