AVIATION and aviation-enabled tourism accounts for 3.2 per cent of Saudi Arabia’s GDP and three per cent of employment in the kingdom, according to a newstudy.
The study was commissioned by Iata and completed by Oxford Economics. It was presented to Prince Fahad Alabdullah, who is president of the General Authority for Civil Aviation (GACA) and chairman of the Board of Saudi Arabian Airlines, by Tony Tyler, Iata’s director general and CEO, who is visiting Saudi Arabia.
Aviation supports 1.8 per cent of Saudi Arabia’s GDP, equal to SR30.2 billion ($8.05 billion) annually and the sector provides work for some 152,000 people in the kingdom. The productivity of these jobs is 1.8 times higher than the average for Saudi Arabia, the study said.
“Aviation is a force for good in our world. The industry has turned our planet into a global community by connecting people to business, bringing products to markets, facilitating journeys of discovery and uniting families and friends. This has a significant economic impact,” Tyler said.
Globally, aviation provides employment to some 57 million people and supports $2.2 trillion in business.
“The aviation investments made in the Gulf region in recent years shows the vital role aviation can play in building and diversifying economies. The new King Abdulaziz international airport project is a good example of such important investment. It is essential that the Saudi government continue with those policies to support the efficient development of connectivity by avoiding unreasonable taxes and onerous regulation, and building sufficient infrastructure,” said Tyler.