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along with an increase in available rooms. As of 2009, there were 102,319 rooms in the Kingdom Ñ a 6.4 percent rise to 2004 Ñ with a 60 percent occupancy rate for that year. Business Monitor Intelligence (BMI) forecasts that arrivals in Saudi will grow 6.7 percent year-on-year to 2014, with pilgrims performing hajj the biggest contributor. A separate report in The Guardian newspaper predicted that by 2025, the Kingdom would receive 25 million pilgrims Ñ more than double the 12 million that currently enter the country to carry out their religious duties. Hotel rooms in Saudi Arabia are set to rise to 319,000 by 2014 from 218,000 in 2009, with several international chains either opening new or additional properties throughout the Kingdom. In 2009, Rotana, Hyatt Hotels & Resorts, Accor and Raffles Hotels & Resorts opened hotels to capitalise on growing demand for accommodation from pre- dominantly business travellers. Elsewhere, InterContinental Hotels Group, Al Hokair Group, Rezidor Hotel Group, Wyndham Hotel Group and Starwood Hotels & Resorts all have properties in the Kingdom. Domestic tourism is another key area that the Saudi authorities are focusing on.
The BMI report revealed that most nation- als often take holidays in other Middle Eastern countries, with a relatively small number staying in the Kingdom. Between 2009 and 2014, the number of Saudis travelling abroad is expected to rise to 10.7 million from 8.19 million. Meanwhile, in- ternational tourism expenditure is forecast to hit US$8.47 million. But the government hopes events like STTIM will encourage the local travel industry to keep pushing domestic holidays to nationals. Elsewhere, Saudi Arabia's tourism authorities stepped up their marketing strategy in 2010 by announcing plans to hold 18 festivals throughout the Kingdom. Sports, entertainment and cultural festivals were held for all age groups, demonstrating or- ganisers' ability to stage big events for locals and visitors alike.
Adding further tourist attractions to the Kingdom, the SCTA plans to open four new provincial museums in Bahah, Tabuk, Hail and Dammam. An additional 40 museums that will highlight Saudi's heritage and antiq- uities are also planned.
On the international front, SCTA was pres- ent on the Saudi Arabia pavilion at Shanghai
World Expo 2010 from May to October last year. The event, which gave participating countries the opportunity to showcase their respective culture, economy, scientific re- search and technology, attracted more than 30,000 people per day. In terms of size, the Saudi pavilion was only second to China's. Further raising the Kingdom's profile, the SCTA organised the 'Saudi Archaeological Masterpieces' exhibition to showcase its heritage to the world.
The exhibition was launched last year and will take place at museums throughout Europe and the US to highlight Saudi's rich culture and history. Some 320 archaeologi- cal artifacts and treasures, most of which reside in Riyadh's National Museum, will be on display for the first time outside the Kingdom. Several discoveries from recent excavations will also be on show. The relics span several historic periods, from the Stone Age (one million year BC) up until the Saudi Renaissance.
Of the archaeological exhibitions taking place, two were opened last year in The Louvre Museum, Paris, which ran for two-and-a-half months, and in Barcelona, Spain, between November 2010 and February this 2011.
National Museum, Riyadh saudiarabia 2011
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