RIYADH: Saudi Arabia is positioning itself at the forefront of the global travel evolution by designing destinations that will target the tourists of the future, the Kingdom’s tourism minister has said.
Ahmed Al-Khateeb added that sustainability would serve as the guiding principle behind Saudi Arabia’s role in tomorrow’s global travel landscape.
Travelers’ habits and the tourism industry’s revenue sources have shifted dramatically in recent years, he told Arab News in an interview.
“People used to travel in groups. Today, they are traveling in smaller groups. Hotels used to make most of their revenues from rooms — now, they are making more from lounges and restaurants.”
And younger generations, empowered by technology, are also redefining how travel is planned and experienced, Al-Khateeb added. “They are driving their own itineraries on the go, which puts pressure on traditional travel companies that once organized large group trips. We are witnessing big shifts in the global travel market.”
