As a part of diversification plan announced under Vision 2030 last year in April, Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman al-Saud unveiled a ‘mega tourism project on the Red Sea coast of the Kingdom’. The Project aims to transform 50 uninhabited islands of white sand beaches into an ‘exquisite luxury tourism destination’.1 The area of these islands span over 200 km2 on the western coastline of the Kingdom, are located between Al Wajh and Umluj cities, 350 km off the coast (See map on page 8). The project covers an area of approximately 34,000 km2, which is equal to the size of Belgium3 or the combined areas of Maldives, Seychelles, Bali and Hawaii. According to the document published by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), “The Red Sea project will be a luxury resort destination situated across the islands of a lagoon and steeped in nature and culture… and will set new standards for sustainable development and bring about the next generation of luxury travel to put Saudi Arabia on the international tourism map”.4 Besides scenic beauty, protected coral reefs, volcanoes near Harat Alrahat, which are inactive since 17th century, and nature reserves inhabited by rare wildlife like Arabian leopard and falcons, are other attractions of the project. The tourists will also get the opportunity of visiting the ancient ruins at Mada’in Saleh, classified as a UNESCO World heritage site, the first heritage location in Saudi Arabia5 (See Fig II for schematic plan of Red Sea Project on page no. 9).
Boosting economic development through diversification is a vital component of Saudi Vision 2030, which was passed by the government on 25th April 2016. The Vision 2030 is a mid- term economic reform programme, which aims, inter alia, to reduce the role of oil in Saudi economy and society, promote privatization, decrease unemployment, both among male and female and increase local content in imported items such as defence and equipments of renewable energy. It is striking to note that for the last eight decades, oil continues to play a significant role in Saudi economy. It contributes around 80 per cent to the export earning, almost the same percentage to the government revenue and 30-40 per cent to the GDP.6 As a result, the Vision’s targets are to reduce the role of oil in Saudi economy, increase the share of non-oil export in non-oil GDP, from the current 16 per cent to 50 per cent; increase private sector’s contribution to GDP, from the current 40 per cent to 65 per cent; increase non-oil revenue, from the current SAR 163 billion to SAR 1 trillion and reduce the rate of unemployment, from the current 11.6 per cent to 7 per cent.
Among non-oil sectors, mining, tourism, IT and its related professions, e-commerce and increasing the share of FDI in GDP, etc., are major thrust areas of the Vision 2030.7 However, among all non-oil diversification plan of the vision, tourism occupies a significant role. The Vision 2030 aims to double its growth by 2020 and increase revenue by 18 per cent in the next 14 years8 and generate 1.2 million jobs for Saudis by 2030.9 A study done by Yousif and Al Bakr, associated with Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority (SAMA), estimated that an investment of SAR 1 million in tourism sector on an average generates 1.4 new jobs in the Kingdom.10
Management and regulation
These 50 islands of the Red Sea would be open to all internal, regional and international tourists. The visa provisions are also quite flexible. Tourists coming from certain countries would require no visas, however these countries yet to be identified. 11 The tourists coming from other countries can obtain online visas prior to their arrival.12 The semi-autonomous area of the project would be governed by laws at par with international standards.13 According to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) the government would adopt ‘standard international laws’. Besides, the authorities would also undertake effective and adequate measures to preserve the pristine natural beauty and maintain the ecological balance of the white sand beaches of these islands. Further, the Saudi authorities would also fix the number of tourists visiting per year to these resorts. This would help them to preserve the ecosystems of these islands.14
The groundbreaking ceremony of the project is expected in the third quarter of 2019 and the ‘target completion date of the first phase is the fourth quarter of 2022’.15 The first phase of the project will include the development of hotels, residential units, an airport and seaport, and other transportation links.16 The Saudi PIF, headed by the Crown Prince will provide the initial investment capital to the project, before opening it to the international investors.17 As of now, Saudi PIF is estimated to have US$ 168 billion assets, which is likely to grow to US$2 trillion once the share of ARAMCO is put on sale. In addition, the project will also seek collaboration with leading global hotel and tourism companies for building luxury residential units and resorts on these islands. The Saudi government would also meet additional expenses for building ‘logistical infrastructure, including air, land and sea transportation hub’. The Red Sea document published by PIF explains that the project will ‘bring about the next-generation of tourism in a way that will open’ Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coastline to tourists from around the world.18
Advantages – harnessing tourism potential for national development
Tourism in Saudi Arabia is the second most important sector, after hydrocarbon, of the economy, while top in employment generation in the Kingdom.19 According to World Travel and Tourism Council Report 2017, total contribution, both direct and indirect, of travel and tourism to the Saudi GDP in 2016 was approximately US$ 65.2 billion (direct US$ 21 billion), while in employment it had been around 9.7 per cent i.e. approximately 1,141,500 (both direct and indirect) in absolute term.20 Saudi Arabia is basically eyeing to increase its pie-share in the global tourism, which is around of US$ 7.6 trillion size (direct, indirect and induced)21 and among major countries benefiting from tourism are the US, which has earned the largest amount of US$ 220.1 billion in 2016, followed by France (US$ 66.8 billion), Britain (US$ 62.8 billion), China (US$ 56.9 billion) and a small country such as Singapore having 5.5 million population earned approximately US$ 19.2 billion, which is more than Russia (US$ 19.0 billion).22 To achieve the targeted objective of tourism in the Kingdom, the Vision 2030 says, “we will create attractions that are of the highest international standards, improve visa issuance procedures for visitors, and prepare and develop our historical and heritage sites”. In order to tap tourism potential, Saudi Arabia established a nodal agency, Saudi National for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTH) in 2000. The SCTH took seven initiatives to attract both internal and international tourists in the country. Some of the initiatives are: ‘Religious Tourism Initiative, including Hajj and Umrah’, ‘the Kingdom as a Muslim Destination Initiative’, ‘the Kafalah Programme Initiative’, ‘Okaz Initiative in Taif’, etc. The SCTH is also reviewing its strategies to be in conformity with Vision 2030 and contribute in achieving the goals of the National Transformation Plan (NTP).23
The Red Sea Project is a part of Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman’s Vision 2030, which is ‘designed to wean the Saudi economy off a dependence on falling oil revenues’ and promote economic diversification. The project’s objectives are not only to attract tourists but also develop “partnership with top-tier global companies” and ‘attract domestic, Arab, Gulf and international investment’ in the Kingdom. Besides, the project also aims to give a boost to the slowing down construction sector, which plays vital role in accelerating growth momentum in the country. Commerce and Investment Minister Majid Al-Qassabi said the project will provide great “investment opportunities and open the way for partnerships with the world’s leading companies in the tourism sector, boosting the national economy according to Vision 2030”.24
The Red Sea project is planned to attract 1 million tourists by 2030 every year; add US$ 4 billion (SAR 14 billion) to the GDP per annum, and, generate 35,000 jobs.25 While talking to Saudi daily Ashraq al Aswat, Abdul Rahim Naqi, Secretary General of the Federation of Chambers of the Gulf Cooperation Council (FCGCC) said that the project is expected to bring ‘hard currency, attract foreign investment and diversifying the economy and income sources’.26 Besides, it would also ‘cement partnership between the public and private sectors and would boost tourism in the country,’ he further said.27 According to him, this is the ‘second project of its kind and would have a big impact on the Saudi economy’.28 The first major planned tourism development project in the Kingdom was the Jeddah seaside resort, known as Corniche project, which the government built with an investment of US$ 800 million. It started in 2012 and is likely to start functioning from October 2017. The project aims to attract 2 million tourists every year. The Jeddah project is spread over more than 4 km of the coastline of the Red Sea.29
Besides harnessing foreign tourists’ potential, the Saudi government has also focused on promoting internal tourism, both leisure and pilgrim. The government’s objective is to double the household spending on recreation to 6 per cent30 and add 5 per cent to the GDP from the current 2.6 per cent (2016).31 Besides promoting internal tourism and generate revenue and employment, the Saudi government also aims to reduce the number of outbound tourists from the Kingdom and save hard currency. According to the Saudi statistics, around 4.5 million Saudis annually visit abroad and spend around US$25.1 billion32 annually, which is higher than Emiratis (US$ 17.1 bn.), Qataris (US$ 12.9bn), Kuwaitis (US$12.3 bn.), Omanis (US$2.3 bn.) and Jordanians (US$1.3 bn.). The Saudi tourists are the highest outbound spenders in the entire Middle East33, while globally they are ranked among the top 20 spenders, spending around US$ 5,866 per trip per person34, spending six times higher to the western holidaymakers.35
With the promotion of Red Sea tourism, it is believed that the government wants to convey a social message of the changing attitude of the regime, to both the internal and external audiences. Through tourism, the Saudi government seems to provide cultural space for the local people as well. The Saudi artists who go abroad to relax, display or perform their cultural, artistic and theatrical skills and talents, can now do the same in the Red Sea Zone.36
Till date, Saudi Arabia has primarily focused religious tourism. On an average, the Kingdom hosts around 10 to 13 million pilgrims to the two holy cities every year, including more than 2 million pilgrims visit for annual Hajj37 (See the statistics of Hajj pilgrims Fig II, page no.10). As a part of the diversification plan, the Saudis have also targeted to “increase its capacity to welcome Umrah visitors from 8 million to 30 million every year by 2030.”38 For the idea of creating a ‘vibrant society’, which is one of the three pillars of the Vision 2030, entertainment and tourism occupies an important place. The government has set up a new General Authority of Entertainment (GAE) for managing the recreation activities in the country. The government has initiated the process of relaxing the rules of entertainment industry. By 2020, the kingdom plans to have more than 450 clubs, providing a variety of cultural activities and events.39 In recent months, it has also organized several operas and open theatre shows and allowed both male and female to enjoy these programmes together. The Saudi authorities have also restricted the power of religious police40 and have relaxed the guardianship rule. Now, women do not need approval from their guardians to carry out their certain works such as travel, study and some health treatments.41
Riyadh has already started experimenting with social and cultural freedom in the country. It has allowed organizing several cultural and entertainment programmes in King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC). The KAEC is emerging as a “sustainable incubator for different social, artistic and cultural events and a supporter of local talents by attracting international events”.42 The National Transformation Plan 2020 (NTP-2020) too has identified tourism and national heritage sites as important elements of promoting diversification and job creation in the country. It aims to increase the number of tourists, including pilgrims, from the present ‘64.5 million to 81.9 million’43 and raise ‘direct jobs in tourism sector from 830,000 to 1.2 million by 2020’.44
Looking at the growing potential of tourism in the Kingdom, the authorities have planned to invest huge amount in building infrastructure and security mechanism. Based on Vision 2030, the Saudi Commission for Tourism & National Heritage (SCTH) is planning to ‘invest some $7 billion in tourism-focused initiatives around the country’.45 Saudi authorities are also using modern technology to manage the growing number of tourists, including pilgrims and minimise avoidable mishaps. Last year they provided GPS connected bracelets to the Hajj pilgrims and ensured their safety and traceability. Besides, the Hajj department of Saudi Arabia has also recruited several guides and announcers from different countries to manage the pilgrims coming from these countries. This has helped in resolving the lingual problem to a great extent.
Challenges
It is obvious that the Saudi government wants to tap both the internal and external tourism potential to diversify economy, generate income and save hard currency, spent by the outbound tourists. However, critics are skeptical about the success of tourism industry in a conservative country like Saudi Arabia. The powerful lobby of clergy and conservative section of Saudi population would hardly allow the government to smoothly promote liberal culture in the Kingdom, including allowing alcohol, abaya/hijab free social life and permission to women to drive cars. However, Head of Tourism Authority Dr Awaad has countered the skeptics, explaining that the Red Sea Zone would not be the first project in the Kingdom to be governed by a specific jurisdiction. In Dhahran, the US and European employees of ARAMCO have been given full freedom to lead their lives but inside the boundary. Second, deliberately, the authorities have scheduled to begin the project by the third quarter of 2019. So it can gauge the reactions and mood of the common public about the Red Sea project and take appropriate measures.
Another possible challenge the Saudi Red Sea Project can encounter is the stiff competition with neighboring countries, which have also focused on tourism in a big way. For instance, UAE (Abu Dhabi, Dubai, etc.), Egypt, Jordan, Israel have invested huge sums in tourism and reap significant benefits. For instance, in Egypt, tourism supports around 10 to 12 per cent of GDP besides providing large number of employment and source of livelihood to the local people.46 In Jordan tourism contributed 6 per cent directly and 20 per cent indirectly to its economy in 2015.47 In 2015, Dubai attracted 14.2 million tourists48, while Jordan welcomed 2.86 million (2016)49 and Israel 3.1 million.50 These countries have also announced their respective tourism vision plans for promoting and harnessing tourism potential. For instance, UAE is investing in theme park and Dubai is organizing Expo 2020; both aim to attract around 19 to 20 million tourists by that time.51 Similarly, Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) has also announced Qatar National Tourism Sector Strategy (QNTSS) 2030 in November 2014 and aims to host around 7-9 million by 2030.52 It has planned to invest around US$45 billion53, including US$ 2.3 billion in FIFA and US$ 9.6 billion in transport infrastructure and related services.
Total tourists visited Middle East in 2016 have been around 53 million and generated approximately US$54 million receipts. Although this is only 4 per cent of the total global tourism of 1,186 million and 0.004 per cent of the total global tourism receipts of US$ 1260 billion,54 the above mentioned countries attract the bulk of the tourists visiting the Middle Eastern countries.
Ensuring security to the tourists seems to be another concern. For instance, at Sharmal Al-Sheikh several attacks by terrorists, including downing of a Russian air carrier, have significantly reduced the flow of tourists there. Similarly, in December 2016, the ‘castle siege’ in Al Karak in Jordan also adversely affected the flow of tourists.55 According to the Jordanian Times the regional conflicts in Syria, Iraq has also affected the flow of tourists. During 2014-15, the number of tourists visiting to Petra reduced to half, from 800,000 to 400, 000.56 Although unlike other neighbouring countries focusing on tourism, Saudi Arabia does not face any major security challenges, Riyadh needs to keep this aspect into its consideration as well.
India and the Red Sea Project
Tourism has been growing in India, both inbound and outbound. Inbound tourism in India contributed around 7.3 per cent to the GDP and 5.3 per cent in employment in 201657. Likewise, hospitality sector has also grown. Today, with a growth rate of 7 per cent per year58, India has ‘emerged as the world’s fastest-growing outbound tourism market.’59 In 2016, the total outbound tourists from India is estimated around 5.1 million –1.5 million outbound MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) travelers and 3.6 million outbound luxury travelers60 and by 2020, this figure is likely to grow to 6.5 million per annum.61 Indian tourists spend billions of dollars aboard. Per capita expenditure is around US$ 4,50062, which is higher than Chinese and Japanese tourists and in some cases higher than Western tourists. In 2015 alone, around 1 million Indian tourists visited the US, spent around US$ 12 billion.63
The growing number of Indian tourists has encouraged the Indian hospitality sector to establish and expand their services in different parts of the world. Today, dozens of Indian hotels and catering units such as Taj International Limited, Oberoi, ITC, Hotel Leela, etc., have expanded their network in over a dozen countries. Now, the Indian hotels intend to focus on two key markets, GCC and South East Asia.64
In recent years, outbound tourism from India to the major West Asian countries, including GCC, Jordan, Israel, etc., has grown. Geographical proximately, affordable cost, attractive shopping centers and growing income of the Indians have pulled and pushed the Indian tourists to visit these countries. In 2016, around 1.8 million visited Dubai; Abu Dhabi around 4.4 million and Oman around 300,000.65 Only this year, Jordan attracted around 20,150 Indian tourists, which 39 per cent higher, while Israel is expected to double the number of Indian tourists next year (2017-118) from the current 65,000.66
Under this backdrop, tourism and hospitality sectors offer ample opportunities to India and Saudi Arabia to enhance their engagements in these two sectors. It will be a lucrative venture for Indian travel and hospitality sector to collaborate with Saudi Arabia’s PIF and became a partner in the Red Sea Project. It will also help Saudis to rope in Indian investment in the Sea Rea project and accelerate diversification and job creation.
Besides tour and travel, the Indian side can also help establish leisure centres in the Red Sea Zone catering herbal and naturopathy treatments for the tourists.
During Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Saudi Arabia in April 2016, the two countries also signed an agreement on the promotion of tourism and handicraft. Hence, the ground for cooperation in tourism has been prepared.
Conclusion
Overall, the success of the Red Sea Project depends on two crucial factors, first, how the global tourism industry responds to the initiative of building luxury resorts in the Red Sea, especially by a conservative country like Saudi Arabia. Second, how ably the young Crown Prince would accommodate the liberals with the hardline-conservative sections of Saudi population and convince the later about the utility and vitality of the project for reducing country’s oil dependency. There are chances that young Saudis, who constitute 70 per cent of the total population, can come forward and support the Red Sea diversification initiative of the Crown Prince but it is to be seen how Riyadh would be able to provide security to the fun-loving tourists amidst raging conflicts in the region.
Nevertheless, for various reasons the Red Sea project seems to be a significant initiative to boost and reform the Saudi economy and society. At macro level, the project seems to potentially accelerate diversification and job creation by tapping both internal and external tourism potential. At micro level, the Red Sea project is estimated to add approximately 5 per cent to the GDP every year, generate 35,000 jobs and minimize the outflow of hard currency of US$ 25 billion every year.
Figure I.
Location of the Red Sea Project
Source: Bloomberg, 1 August 2017.
Figure II.
Schemeatic Diagram of the Red Sea Project
Source: inputs taken from: http://www.arabnews.com/node/1137781/saudi-arabia
(drawn by the author in different format)
Figure III.
Number of Hajj Pilgrims Hosted by Saudi Arabia in the Last 10 Years
Note: Figures of 1970 and 2017 are added by the author. 1970 figure is taken from Saudi Gazatte, 28 August 2017 & 2017’s from Al Arabia, 24 August 2017. 67
Source: www.mofa.gov.sa
***
*The Author, Research Fellow, Indian Council of World Affairs, New Delhi.
Disclaimer: The views expressed are that of the Researcher and not of the Council.
Endnotes
1 “Frequently asked questions”, issued by Public Investment Fund (PIF) department of Saudi Arabia, http://saudiarabien.ahk.de/uploads/media/The_Red_Sea_-_FAQ_s_-_English.pdf.
2Alaa Shahine and Vivian Nereim, “Saudi Arabia Plans a Huge Red Sea Beach Tourism Project”, Bloomberg, 1 August 2017, https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-08-01/saudi-arabia-unveils-plans-for-mega-red-sea-tourism-project
3 Ibid.
4 “Saudi Crown Prince announces launch of global tourism ‘Red Sea Project”, Al Arabiya, 1 August 2017, https://english.alarabiya.net/en/features/2017/08/01/All-you-need-to-know-about-the-Red-Sea-Project.html
5 “Saudi Arabia plans luxury beach resorts on Red Sea”, BBC, 1 August 2017, http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-40795570
6 Bassam Fattouh and Amrita Sen, “Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, Oil Policy and the Evolution of the Energy Sector”, The Oxford Institute for Energy Studies, July 2016, https://www.oxfordenergy.org/wpcms/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Saudi-Arabias-Vision-2030-Oil-Policy-and-the-Evolution-of-the-Energy-Sector.pdf
7 Vision 2030 Document, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, http://vision2030.gov.sa/en
8 Eleanor Dickinson, “Saudi Vision 2030 aims to double tourism by 2020”, Gulf Business, http://gulfbusiness.com/saudi-vision-2030-hopes-double-hotel-sector/
9Ghazanfar Ali Khan, “Saudi Arabia launches new tourism initiatives within Vision 2030”, Arab news, 17 July 2017, http://www.arabnews.com/node/1130646/saudi-arabia
10 Mohammed Al Yousif and Ahmed Al Bakr “Tourism Development Effect On Saudi Economic Diversification”, SAMA Working Paper, March 2017, http://www.sama.gov.sa/en-US/EconomicResearch/WorkingPapers/Tourism%20Development%20Effect%20On%20Saudi%20Economic%20Diversification.pdf
11 Op.cit. 1.
12 Ibid.
13 Ibid.
14 Karen Gilchrist, “How 125 miles of coastline could add $4 billion and 35,000 jobs to Saudi Arabia’s economy”, CNBC, 2 August 2017, https://sg.finance.yahoo.com/news/125-miles-coastline-could-add-132000886.html
15 Hossam Abougabal, “Saudi Arabia’s tourism plans offer hope for contractors”, MEED, 7 August 2017,
16 Rob Hodgetts, “Saudi Arabia launches luxury Red Sea beach resorts plan”, CNN, 4 August 2017, https://www.cnbc.com/2017/08/02/saudi-arabia-red-sea-tourism-project-4-billion-economy.html
17 “Saudi Arabia plans luxury tourism resorts on Red Sea islands and coast”, Middle East Eye and other agencies, 1 August 2017, http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/saudi-arabia-plans-massive-luxury-tourist-resort-its-red-sea-coastline-1634989854
18 Aya Batrawy, “No visa, no veil? Saudi Arabia may ease rules for tourists”, Detroit Free Press, 6 August 2017 http://www.freep.com/story/travel/2017/08/06/saudi-arabia-tourists-veil-visa/104189062/
19 Sharif M. Taha, “Saudi Arabia to witness major drive in tourist projects: Prince Sultan”, Arab News, 26 February 2017, http://www.arabnews.com/node/1059966/saudi-arabia
20 Report, “Travel & Tourism Economic Impact 2017 Saudi Arabia”, World Travel and Tourism Council, , https://www.wttc.org/-/media/files/reports/economic-impact-research/countries-2017/saudiarabia2017.pdf
21 “Travel & Tourism: Economic Impact 2017”, World Travel and Tourism Council Report 2017, https://www.wttc.org/-/media/files/reports/economic-impact-research/2017-documents/tt-economic-impact-2017-infographic-v2.pdf?la=en
22 Sharif M. Taha, “Saudi Arabia to witness major drive in tourist projects: Prince Sultan”, Arab News, 26 February 2017, http://www.arabnews.com/node/1059966/saudi-arabia
23 Ghazanfahar Ali Khan, “Saudi Arabia launches new tourism initiatives within Vision 2030”, Arab News, 17 July 2017, http://www.arabnews.com/node/1130646/saudi-arabia
24 “Red Sea project to attract global tourism companies: Al-Qassabi’, Arab News, 3 August 2017, http://www.arabnews.com/node/1138756/saudi-arabia
25 “Plans to Tap Massive Tourism Potential for Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Unveiled”, Saudi-US Trade Group, 1 August 2017, http://sustg.com/plans-to-tap-massive-tourism-potential-for-saudi-arabias-red-sea-unveiled/
26 Fatah Al Rahman Youssef, “Red Sea Project: New Income Sources for Saudi Arabia”, Ashraq Al-Aswat, https://english.aawsat.com/f-yousef/news-middle-east/saudi-arabia/red-sea-project-new-income-sources-saudi-arabia
27 Ibid.
28 Ibid.
29 Ibid.
30 “Saudi crown prince launches mega Red Sea tourism project”, Arab News, 1 August 2017, http://www.arabnews.com/node/1137781/saudi-arabia
31 Sylvia Smith “Saudi Arabia hopes for religious tourism boost”, BBC, 20 May 2016, http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-36250851
32 “KSA tourists cough up $25.1 billion abroad”, Arab News, 14 August 2016, http://www.arabnews.com/node/969511/saudi-arabia
33 “KSA tourists cough up $25.1 billion abroad”, Arab News, 14 August 2016, http://www.arabnews.com/node/969511/saudi-arabia
34 Coffee Wang “Who are the Top 5 tourist spenders?”, Morgan McKINLEY, 17 June 2015, https://www.morganmckinley.com.hk/article/who-are-top-5-tourist-spenders
35 Khris Kitching, “Saudi Arabian tourists are world's biggest spenders... splashing out £14 BILLION on shopping trips abroad every year”, Mail Online, UK, 8 January 2015, http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-2901717/Saudi-Arabian-tourists-world-s-biggest-spenders-splashing-14-BILLION-shopping-trips-abroad-year.html
36 “Saudi Sovereign Fund Considers Stake in Six Flags”, Bloomberg, 8 February 2017,
37“Saudi Arabia beyond Oil: The Investment and Productivity Transformation”, Mckinsey Global Institute, December 2015, p.19.
38 Vision 2030 document, http://vision2030.gov.sa/en
39 Op.cit. 17.
40 “A year after curbing its power, the Saudi religious police is deemed redundant by many’, Arab News, 30 March 2017, http://www.arabnews.com/node/1076321/saudi-arabia
41 Heba Kanso, “Saudi step to relax male guardianship welcomed by women's advocates”, Reuter, 5 may 2017,
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-saudi-women-idUSKBN1811QN
42 “King Abdullah Economic City hosts Art of Jeddah 21,39 exhibition”, Arab News, 16 February 2017,
http://www.arabnews.com/node/1055051/saudi-arabia
43Simeon Kerr, “Five goals of Saudi Arabia’s ambitious transformation plans”, Financial Times, 10 June 2016,
“https://www.ft.com/content/cbb86ed2-2e38-11e6-a18d-a96ab29e3c95
44 “Factbox - Saudi Arabia's National Transformation Plan”, Reuter, 7 June 2016, http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-saudi-plan-factbox-idUKKCN0YS2KD
45 Lark Gould, “Is Saudi Arabia opening up for tourism?”, The Washington Times, 30 May 2017,http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/may/30/travel-saudi-arabia-tourism/
46 This figure is before the Arab Uprising erupted in Egypt. Due to disturbances, tourism in Egypt has considerably reduced.
47 Eion Wilsom, “Jordan struggles to draw new tourists”, Al Jazeera, 17 January 2017, http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2017/01/jordan-struggles-draw-tourists-170113093913722.html
48 “Dubai, Abu Dhabi welcome 2 million Indian visitors in 2016”, Khaleej Times, 17 March 2017 ,http://www.khaleejtimes.com/business/local/dubai-abu-dhabi-welcome-over-2m-indian-visitors-in-2016
49 Dana Al Emam, “Despite rise in number of visitors, last year’s tourism revenues similar to 2015’, The Jordan Times,16 January 2017,
50 “More Than Three Million Tourists Visited Israel In 2015”, Jewish Press.com, 11 January 2016,
51 “UAE theme parks to welcome more than 19 million visitors by 2020”, Emirate 24 News, 1 December 2017
52Qatar National Tourism Sector Strategy 2030, Qatar Tourism Authority, https://www.visitqatar.qa/corporate/planning/strategy-2030
53Qatar National Tourism Sector Strategy 2030, Qatar Tourism Authority, https://www.visitqatar.qa/corporate/planning/strategy-2030
54 “Tourism Highlights 2016”, UNWTO http://www.e-unwto.org/doi/pdf/10.18111/9789284418145
55 Suleiman Al Khalidi, “Jordan declares end of castle siege, says four gunmen killed”, Reuter, 18 December 2016, http://www.reuters.com/article/us-jordan-security-shooting-idUSKBN1470GG
56 Eion Wilsom, “Jordan struggles to draw new tourists”, Al Jazeera, 17 January 2017, http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2017/01/jordan-struggles-draw-tourists-170113093913722.html
57 Report, “Tour and Travel: Economic Impact 2016 India”, World Travel and Tourism Council 2016, UK, https://www.wttc.org/-/media/files/reports/economic-impact-research/countries-2016/india2016.pdf
58 http://www.financialexpress.com/world-news/gulf-region-turns-to-india-china-to-boost-tourism-report/642948/
59Anjali Gupta, “Outbound travel industry grows, but challenges remain”, The Economic Times, 10 February 2017, http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/50926441.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst
60 http://www.deccanchronicle.com/business/economy/280617/india-to-generate-65-million-outbound-tourists-annually-by-2020.html
61 http://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/india-to-generate-6-5-mn-outbound-luxury-tourists-annually-by-2020-report-117062800524_1.html
62 Ibid.
63 “'Indian tourists spent nearly $12 billion in US in 2015” The Economic Times, 11 April 2017, http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/travel/indian-tourists-spent-nearly-12-billion-in-us-in-2015/articleshow/58123563.cms
64 Puravita Chatarjee, “Indian Hotels to focus on GCC, South-East Asian countries”, The Hindu Business Line, 29 May 2016, http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/indian-hotels-to-focus-on-gcc-southeast-asian-countries/article8663388.ece
65 Dubai, Abu Dhabi welcome over 2 million Indian visitors in 2016”, Khaleej Times, 27 March 2017, http://www.khaleejtimes.com/business/local/dubai-abu-dhabi-welcome-over-2m-indian-visitors-in-2016
66 Anumeha Chaturvedi, “Foreign tourism boards woo Indian travelers with incentives’, The Economic Times, 28 June 2017, ,http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/services/travel/foreign-tourism-boards-woo-indian-travellers-with-incentives/articleshow/59343975.cms
67 Expansion of holy sites, better services up number of pilgrims (Saudi Gazette, 28 August 2017; ); Al Arabiya, 24 August 2017.