More than SR50 million ($13.3 million) in deals concluded at the Saudi Travel and Tourism Investment Market (STTIM) 2010 marked the event’s success in its third session.
The majority of the deals were conducted in leisure projects, organising tours, tourism accommodation and tourism marketing.
STTIM’s observers emphasised that the growth in tourism investment sectors in recent years was due to the participation of international companies in the Saudi market, specifically in the hotel industry and tourism investment.
They said that the importance of the tourism services integration contracts, concluded by companies and agencies, lies in providing integrated tourism services designed for domestic tourists who are the key targeted segment in STTIM.
The five-day market witnessed a heavy turnout by professionals, stakeholders and investors in the travel and tourism industry from within and outside the country. The main theme of the third STTIM was, ‘Tourism and Job Opportunities,’ which focused mainly on the role of tourism in the provision of employment opportunities for Saudis.
Meanwhile, the academic sessions discussed a number of topics in the field of tourism, such as tourism employment and training, development of tourism products, the role of travel and tourism agencies and trip organisers in providing job opportunities, tourism investment opportunities, festivals, providing job and investment opportunities for local communities and funding tourism projects.
The exhibition included more than 114 tourism and travel companies with strong participation from within the Saudi market.
Abdullah Al-Jehani, vice president of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) for marketing and media, and chairman of the steering committee for STTIM 2010 said: “STTIM this year achieved a great success based on the heavy turnout and the interaction its 12 sessions and workshops witnessed which included various valuable and unique working papers, research topics, and themes.
“Through organising this important annual event, SCTA is targeting domestic tourists through providing them with detailed information on the kingdom’s tourism potentials, prompting them to take up tourism trips inside the kingdom, as well as gathering concerned people, officials and investors in tourism issues to discuss appropriate ways to develop local tourism.”
A number of events were held on the margin of STTIM, such as various folklore performances, handicrafts shows, a Badia tent, photography and a fine arts exhibition, as well as the organisation of tourism trips for participants and visitors to the forum to significant tourism landmarks in Riyadh city and its outskirts.
STTIM, held at Al Faisaliah Hotel, was organised by SCTA under the auspices of HRH Prince Salman Bin Abdul Aziz, Amir of Riyadh.