Saudi Tour Guide Association Promotes Virtual Tours

Visitors tour near Rock formations that resemble human face at the Madain Saleh antiquities site in Al-Ula, Saudi Arabia. Reuters file photo
Visitors tour near Rock formations that resemble human face at the Madain Saleh antiquities site in Al-Ula, Saudi Arabia. Reuters file photo
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Saudi Tour Guide Association Promotes Virtual Tours

Visitors tour near Rock formations that resemble human face at the Madain Saleh antiquities site in Al-Ula, Saudi Arabia. Reuters file photo
Visitors tour near Rock formations that resemble human face at the Madain Saleh antiquities site in Al-Ula, Saudi Arabia. Reuters file photo

Over 900 tour guides in Saudi Arabia are joining digital tourism as an inevitable option after the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Saudi Tour Guide Association has recently organized its 7th Saudi Tour Guides Forum, which coincides with International Tourist Guide Day, with the participation of a number of international tourism experts and guides.

The association aims to qualify more than 13,000 tour guides to meet the expected demand until 2030, presenting Saudi Arabia as a competitive destination.

Chairman of the Association Sattam al-Blowi indicated that tourism will need three or four years before returning to its previous conditions, noting that this requires the use of technology and e-programs to aid guides in keeping up with the developments and keep their jobs.

Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, Blowi said the forum concluded that tourism after the pandemic will not be the same, indicating that there will be great dependence on technology in tourism.

For that, the association invited a number of e-marketing specialists to the forum, he said.

However, the chairman stressed that the technological development will not eliminate the need for “indispensable” tour guides, adding that they target tourists who want “to communicate with people in the local community.”

Professor at King Abdulaziz University Dr. Nadia Qurban explained that COVID-19 led to an unprecedented crisis in the tourism sector worldwide, and the number of tourists have dropped during the past year.

Qurban, who is also a member of the Tour Guide Association, explained to Asharq Al-Awsat that guides are the people most affected by the pandemic, which prompted a large number of them to use technology to practice their profession through YouTube channels or lectures on Zoom.

Qurban noted that technological development enabled the tourism sector to succeed, with the establishment of online tourist sites, pushing innovators to come up with promotional and marketing ideas for themselves as well as for archaeological sites.

She believes that digital solutions in tourist guidance are a necessity for its growth, saying the guides reached their audience largely through social media by organizing virtual tours to different sites and cities.

Tour guides will remain a pillar of the industry because they present a “vital human touch indispensable to tourists regardless of technological development," asserts Qurban.



iRead Marathon Records over 6.5 Million Pages Read

Participants agreed that the number of pages read was not merely a numerical milestone - SPA
Participants agreed that the number of pages read was not merely a numerical milestone - SPA
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iRead Marathon Records over 6.5 Million Pages Read

Participants agreed that the number of pages read was not merely a numerical milestone - SPA
Participants agreed that the number of pages read was not merely a numerical milestone - SPA

The fifth edition of the iRead Marathon achieved a remarkable milestone, surpassing 6.5 million pages read over three consecutive days, in a cultural setting that reaffirmed reading as a collective practice with impact beyond the moment.

Hosted at the Library of the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) and held in parallel with 52 libraries across 13 Arab countries, including digital libraries participating for the first time, the marathon reflected the transformation of libraries into open, inclusive spaces that transcend physical boundaries and accommodate diverse readers and formats.

Participants agreed that the number of pages read was not merely a numerical milestone, but a reflection of growing engagement and a deepening belief in reading as a daily, shared activity accessible to all, free from elitism or narrow specialization.

Pages were read in multiple languages and formats, united by a common conviction that reading remains a powerful way to build genuine connections and foster knowledge-based bonds across geographically distant yet intellectually aligned communities, SPA reported.

The marathon also underscored its humanitarian and environmental dimension, as every 100 pages read is linked to the planting of one tree, translating this edition’s outcome into a pledge of more than 65,000 trees. This simple equation connects knowledge with sustainability, turning reading into a tangible, real-world contribution.

The involvement of digital libraries marked a notable development, expanding access, strengthening engagement, and reinforcing the library’s ability to adapt to technological change without compromising its cultural role. Integrating print and digital reading added a contemporary dimension to the marathon while preserving its core spirit of gathering around the book.

With the conclusion of the iRead Marathon, the experience proved to be more than a temporary event, becoming a cultural moment that raised fundamental questions about reading’s role in shaping awareness and the capacity of cultural initiatives to create lasting impact. Three days confirmed that reading, when practiced collectively, can serve as a meeting point and the start of a longer cultural journey.


Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Reserve Launches Fifth Beekeeping Season

Jazan’s Annual Honey Festival - File Photo/SPA
Jazan’s Annual Honey Festival - File Photo/SPA
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Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Reserve Launches Fifth Beekeeping Season

Jazan’s Annual Honey Festival - File Photo/SPA
Jazan’s Annual Honey Festival - File Photo/SPA

The Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Nature Reserve Development Authority launched the fifth annual beekeeping season for 2026 as part of its programs to empower the local community and regulate beekeeping activities within the reserve.

The launch aligns with the authority's objectives of biodiversity conservation, the promotion of sustainable environmental practices, and the generation of economic returns for beekeepers, SPA reported.

The authority explained that this year’s beekeeping season comprises three main periods associated with spring flowers, acacia, and Sidr, with the start date of each period serving as the official deadline for submitting participation applications.

The authority encouraged all interested beekeepers to review the season details and attend the scheduled virtual meetings to ensure organized participation in accordance with the approved regulations and the specified dates for each season.


Hail Municipality Named Arab Green City For 2024-2025

The achievement establishes Hail as a leading Arab model for sustainable urban development - SPA
The achievement establishes Hail as a leading Arab model for sustainable urban development - SPA
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Hail Municipality Named Arab Green City For 2024-2025

The achievement establishes Hail as a leading Arab model for sustainable urban development - SPA
The achievement establishes Hail as a leading Arab model for sustainable urban development - SPA

The Hail Region Municipality has secured first place in the Arab Green City award for 2024-2025 at the 15th session of the Arab Towns Organization.

This recognition honors the municipality’s commitment to environmental sustainability, the expansion of green spaces, and the implementation of urban practices that elevate the quality of life, SPA reported.

The award follows a series of strategic environmental initiatives, including large-scale afforestation, the modernization of public parks, and the adoption of eco-friendly solutions to enhance the urban landscape and resource efficiency.

By aligning its projects with the sustainability goals of Saudi Vision 2030, the municipality continues to foster a healthy and safe environment for residents and visitors.

This achievement establishes Hail as a leading Arab model for sustainable urban development.