SR53bn to be spent on local tourism

The Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTNH), the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce, Jeddah municipality and all other departments of the government are eager to promote national tourism.
Mohammad Abdullah Al-Amri, director general of the SCTNH branch in Makkah Province, said the commission is expected to spend SR53.5 billion on local tourism and about SR90.8 billion on inbound tourism in 2016.
He said the SCTNH is expecting around SR144.3billion in revenues in 2016 from visitors and residents of the Kingdom.
He said the expected revenue through local tourism is much more than what Saudis traveling abroad spend, as it is estimated that Saudis spend SR86.4 billion on tourism abroad.
He said the government’s Vision 2030 will lead to non-dependence on oil revenue, and will assume Saudi Arabia’s new economic transformation plan.
Meanwhile, Jeddah will put in its share to the tourism economy in the long run, and there will be a significant growth in domestic tourism.
Al-Amri said they have planned new strategies for the promotion and development of domestic tourism according to Vision 2030.
“It is clear that tourism is an essential part of the Kingdom’s vision, which provides business, and creates jobs and investments,” he said.