THE seventh Saudi Travel and Tourism Investment Market (STTIM) 2014, held between March 30 and April 4 at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Centre, was a great success.
Through the five-day business networking platform, travel experts interacted with domestic and international visitors, introducing new services and packages. A raffle draw of inbound tickets to Jeddah and Dammam were among the attractions at the Al Tayyer Travel Group stand. On the successful completion of this event, deputy chairman and president of Al Tayyar Travel Group, Dr Nasser bin Aqeel Abdullah Al Tayyar, said: “With expansions across the globe and high-tech, improved online booking solutions, the group is getting closer to its customers and partners, empowering them with modern resources.” A recent report released by the Saudi Commission on Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) has indicated that Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector is set to create 1.7 million jobs over the coming six years. The tourism sector contributes to 2.6 per cent of the Saudi economy. Ziyad bin Mahfouz, president, Elaf Group of Companies and a member of the Makkah Tourism Development Council, said that the country’s rapidly developing tourism industry is on the right track to success, achieving continuous year-on-year growth. Elaf contributes to the industry through its continuous expansion and opening of a new property, Elaf Al Salam, in Makkah Al Mokarrama. During the event, the Elaf Group took part in a number of panel discussions related to safety and security in hotels and furnished apartments; the role of new transportation projects in enhancing and developing tourism sector; investment in events and festivals; how tourism associations can help the tourism sector; investment in tourism sector and building destinations. Elaf also participated in sessions on emerging tourism aspects like including how to maximise return from the booking systems; exhibition and convention licensing and venue policies such as the National Programme for Exhibitions and Conferences.Abdul Latif Jameel Real Estate Investment Company (ALJREIC), owner and developer of the 1,743-key Anjum Hotel in Makkah, was a strategic partner of STTIM 2014. ALJREIC has developed the SR10 billion ($2.66 billion) worth Jabal Al Ka’aba project in Makkah and promoted its flagship Anjum Hotel, being established to accommodate increasing number of Hajj and Umrah pilgrims and tourists. The Anjum Hotel is the largest and the first hotel within the Jabal Al Ka’aba project. Speaking about ALJREIC’s developments and contributions, chairman Yousef Abdul Latif Jameel revealed that the company has invested SR4 billion ($1.06 billion) for the development of the 1,743-room Anjum Hotel in Makkah. The launch of the Anjum Hotels hospitality brand comes in line with the company’s aim in creating a Saudi-cultured, spiritual hotel experience unlike any other. The Anjum Hotel offers an array of exclusive services including for instance a dedicated guest centre, a service to assist guests throughout their religious rituals, a kids’ area featuring a specialised, trained team to look after children between the ages of three and seven, and premium floors for special guests. Link for the Saudi Tourism: