Saudi Posited To Be Next Hub For Sustainable Tourism

One of the spokesmen for the UNWTO while speaking to Arab News said: “This ambitious plan aims to reshape the social and cultural landscape, accelerating growth through strategic investment, new industries and leadership.

Saudi Arabia’s heritage, culture, and hospitality have been largely overlooked by the world so if it delivers on its climate and sustainability goals tourism can play a vital role in bringing KSA on the tourism map.

According to research CO2 emissions from tourism will increase by 25 percent by 2030 compared to 2016 levels which if neglected could mean that tourism will face a setback given the number of eco-friendly tourists.

National tourism planning is a well-established practice among national authorities with national tourism policies covering on average a time frame of 10 years and addressing the same thematic areas across regions according to a spokesperson.

“Aspects such as human resource development, investment, marketing and promotion, employment, product development, and diversification have been factored into the policies as these are relevant aspects for the sustainable economic development of tourism.”

Sustainable tourism consultant Amine Ahlafi said it was important to remember it had a rich history of religious tourism even though the country itself is a late entrant in the tourism industry. It is stated that 2.5 million to 9 million pilgrims travel to the Kingdom each year which results in millions of plastic containers, especially water cups being wasted. Recycling these cups would show the world how sustainability starts with the smallest changes.

“We can do luxury combined with sustainability and not in a greenwashing way with the design of luxury desert camps that optimize the natural resources, the sun, and the wind for energy,” said Ahlafi to Arab News.

“Technology is the tool, not the solution, the solution is building to suit the environment, not trying to have the environment suit you.”

Saudi Arabia will have to narrow its focus on water conservation more than some destinations. Capitalizing on local agriculture, providing sustainable air travel that works on efficient fuel technologies and transparency in data transfer can make a mammoth difference. For all this, the country must work around the UN’s 17 SDGs

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has a clear shot at making a difference in the external world’s perspectives towards it by encouraging a ‘greener soft power’ in the form of sustainable tourism.