introduction: saudi arabia saudi arabia 2012
KING SAUD UNIVERSITY
will create more job opportunities, increas- ing the number of employees from 590,000 in 2009 to 922,000 by 2019 (or 9.4 percent of the working population).
With annual revenues of SR52 billion- plus (US$13.8 billion) coming from international travel and tourism, it's clear to see why Saudi authorities are targeting business travellers. "Despite being one of the 22 highest inbound markets in the world, the Kingdom aims at fully developing the potential of its tourism sector," a recent SCTA statement said. "Several trade events are already being lined up to encourage regional and international investors and exhibitors to explore the numerous pros- pects available within the thriving Saudi travel and tourism market."
ON THE BUSINESS SIDE Business tourism is an essential part of the total tourism industry, since it now accounts for 24.5 percent of the total number of inbound visits to Saudi Arabia, according to the latest SCTA figures available from the 2010 Tourist Information and Research Cen- tre report. Furthermore, business tourism spend accounts for 20.3 percent of the total inbound tourist spend. The SCTA also says that the Kingdom hosts more than 92,000 events for a combined 4.7 million delegates per year. Of those attendees, however, most are Saudi nationals. Conferences and meet- ings account for most events annually, with exhibitions representing four percent. Of that number, between 50 and 60 exhibitions target trade and consumers. Yet efforts are being made to expand the conference and meetings industry as part of the Kingdom's development plan.
Hotels with conference facilities are most commonly used to stage events, while dedicated exhibition venues in the Kingdom remain at a premium. Saudi Arabia boasts some 445 potential meetings venues, predominantly in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dam- man, suggesting that the infrastructure for a developing industry is in place. Indeed, the SCTA estimates that Saudi Arabia has some 55 principal venues, of which the majority (40) in the Kingdom are hotels. On the conference side, venues such as
the King Khaled Conference Centre in Burai- dah, Al-Qassim, often host festivals and lectures for domestic clients. In Riyadh, The
King Abdulaziz Historical Centre is consid- ered a well-fitted, modern venue that offers a fixed-seat auditorium. Elsewhere, govern- ment conference centres such as Qassim Provincial Headquarters and the King Faisal Hall, plus university buildings with dedicated meetings facilities, are sometimes available for commercial events.
THE VAST LOBBY OF THE RITZ-CARLTON, RIYADH
In 2010 the government allocated SR2 billion (US$533 million) to improve facilities within the Kingdom's universities. The King Faisal Conference Centre at the Uni- versity of King Abdulaziz in Jeddah can hold a variety of events and exhibitions and one education faculty that is opening its doors to event planners is the Qassim University, which has a major conference centre planned. The centre will have a 2,500-seat auditorium, 5,000 square metres of exhibi- tion space and various ancillary facilities. Brand new The Ritz-Carlton, Riyadh Palace Hotel offers largely unrivalled opu- lence in the city of Riyadh and also boasts more than 5,800 square metres of confer- ence space, incorporating two enormous ballrooms, two theatres, a huge variety of meeting rooms and a full business centre. Perhaps one of the Kingdom's best- known venues, The Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center, was conceived in 1994 and recently redeveloped by the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce. The 15,000-square-metre venue offers a 1,100- seat auditorium, among other facilities. Another prestigious venue is the Jeddah International Exhibition Centre, which was the first conference facility built in Saudi Arabia over 21 years ago. It is owned by the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Elsewhere, a 5,000-square-metre exhibition hall is planned at the Dhahran International Exhibition Centre in Damman. More meetings and event facilities are expected once the King Abdullah Economic City opens. The residential and business hub is being built near Rabegh industrial city on the coast, north of Jeddah. Stretching 35 kilometres, the development will boast research centres for the pharmaceutical, tourism, finance and education sectors. Plans to open hotels with conference rooms and facilities have been mooted as Saudi Arabia looks to establish itself as a prime location for the meetings sector. Fulfilling this objective will take time, but with several developments in the pipeline the Kingdom is clearly making headway.
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