The Saudi Tourism Authority (STA) has launched Tourism Shapers, a new initiative to support the learning and development of local travel trading partners in the private tourism sector.

Tourism Shapers aims to support the tourism sector and inspire SMB businesses in the UK to seize the opportunities to thrive.

“Across the kingdom we see different types of small and medium-sized businesses changing their work models and offerings so that tourism is at the heart of their core product,” said Fahd Hamidaddin, CEO of the Saudi Tourism Authority. “Companies are starting to think differently about the future and are realizing the immense growth opportunities in the tourism sector and how they need to adapt, evolve and innovate to meet the needs of their customers.

The initiative began with a series of monthly interactive webinars, with each session focusing on a different topic, to provide the audience with best practices, key insights and information about the tourism sector. The first webinar, “The Future of Travel and Tourism,” brought together thought leaders Noor Nugali, Assistant Editor-in-Chief of Arab News. Travel expert and founder of Startup Enabler, Why Bolt, Aya Sadder; and Abdulrahman Bakhsh, Director of Private Sector Partnerships at STA, for insights and views on tomorrow’s tourism industry and how businesses can adapt and evolve for the future.

The initiative started with a series of monthly interactive webinars

“Tourism is one of the fastest growing sectors in the world, it is constantly changing and businesses need to be ready to adapt. The future of the industry will focus on building more resilient communities and businesses through innovation, effective partnerships and a readiness to embrace digitization, ”said Aya Sadder.

The next webinar, focusing on pricing strategy for tourism companies, will air on March 17, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. local time on Tourism Shapers’ website.

“The future of tourism depends on building partnerships at all levels,” said Hamidaddin. “Tourism Shapers is just one initiative with which STA exchanges ideas and insights that will help our partners gain their share of visits.”

The coronavirus pandemic forced Saudi Arabia to close its borders for much of last year, boosting domestic tourism within the kingdom.

Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund will provide Soudah Development with SAR 11 billion, which will build 2,700 hotel rooms and 1,300 homes in an area including Al-Soudah, it was announced last month.

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