Saudi Arabia plans to boost stream of pilgrims to 30 millions
According Elaf Group, SEDCO holding company and a leading provider of tourist and hotel services, we witnessed a surge of growth in the tourist sector of Saudi economy over last year.
Statistics says about successful Umrah season and the recent celebration of Mawlid - the date of birth of the Prophet Muhammad – it is showed through significantly increased an occupancy rate of hotels across the country.
The positive numbers complement the Saudi government’s initiatives of Vision 2030, which aims to increase the number of Hajj and Umrah pilgrims to 30 million annually. In line with this, recent tourism reports have reflected a five per cent rise in Umrah pilgrims, which is being predicted to grow by 30 per cent in the next three years.
During this period, there was a noticeable increase in the number of visitors that arrived in Saudi Arabia, and there was a heavy concentration of people who visited notable holy and religious sites. The visitors came from all over the world and were composed of different nationalities, all of whom came specially to immerse themselves in the rich, religious and cultural traditions that the Kingdom has to offer. Looking to address the expected surge in tourists coming for religious purposes, the country has already started construction for 35,770 rooms in 81 hotels, with 24,133 rooms being constructed in Makkah alone.
Saudi Arabia’s government has always recognized tourism as a key pillar in its efforts to diversify its economy and move away from its dependence on the oil and gas sector. Religious pilgrims currently contribute 2 to 3 per cent of Saudi's GDP. In a bid to further enhance the sector, infrastructure projects to double the capacity and accommodate the number of both Hajj and Umrah visitors to around 5 million and 15 million respectively, are currently underway.
Source:albawaba.com