Saudi Arabia’s Tourism Development Fund and Seera Group have signed a financing agreement for Raghadan Tourist Resort, the first sustainable tourism project in Al Baha, in the west of Saudi Arabia. Al Baha is a key investment destination under Saudi Arabia’s National Tourism Strategy, a statement from the companies said.
The partnership agreement to establish and operate the Raghadan Tourist Resort was signed by Qusai Al-Fakhri, CEO of Tourism Development Fund, and Majed Al Nefaie, CEO of Seera Group.
The partnership makes way for Seera Group to develop the sustainable tourism development across 50,000 square metres. It aims to preserve and promote the social, environmental, and economic sustainability of the Al Baha region.
The Raghadan Tourist Resort will feature a luxury hotel resort with 200 guest rooms and family suites, a multi-purpose hall, outdoor spaces, shops, and F&B outlets. It will also feature a children's activity centre, theatre, marketplace, and shopping centre.
Visitors can partake in a variety of activities at the resort, including climbing, hiking, biking, and camping.
"Developing tourist destinations based on unique experiences will be an important priority for the Saudi tourism sector over the coming years. We believe that this project will make Al Baha an attractive destination for holidays, recreational activities, meetings, exhibitions, and conferences,” Al Nefaie said.
“Additionally, we hope it will be a catalyst for further tourism projects and investments in the region that contribute to Saudi Arabia’s economic growth and the creation of more sustainable jobs in the Kingdom,” Al Nefaie continued.
THE LATEST ADDITION TO SUSTAINABLE TOURISM IN SAUDI ARABIA
The Raghadan Tourist Resort adds to a number of sustainable tourism projects currently underway in Saudi Arabia. These include the Red Sea Project (which includes the Coral Bloom ecotourism project), and planned mega-city NEOM.
Last year, the kingdom launched a USD 4 billion Tourism Development Fund to promote growth in the tourism industry. The launch was part of the first phase of Saudi Arabia’s National Tourism Strategy, a national agenda for developing and enhancing 38 sites across seven destinations in the country by 2022.
As part of Saudi’s Vision 2030, the country’s Ministry of Tourism is looking to grow investments in the tourism sector to USD 58 billion by 2023. It is also aiming to bring in investments surpassing SAR 500 billion in tourism by 2030.
Photo credit: www.arabnews.com/node/1807111/saudi-arabia, www.arabianbusiness.com/travel-hospitality
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