The Saudi government expects 100 million tourists annually by the end of the decade, but this would require development projects worth tens of billions of dollars. The first steps have already been taken, including the rapid development of Riyadh Airlines, but Vision 2030 and the NEOM project also promise to be gigantic.
According to the plans of the Saudi government, Saudi Arabia can be at the top of the podium in the world tourism competition in a few years. The goal of the recently launched $10 billion development projects is for the country to receive 100 million tourists annually by the end of the year. For comparison, it is worth noting that France had 90 million arrivals last year and the United States just over 50 million.
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The largest investment in Saudi Arabia is the giant NEOM project |
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Photo: NEOM |
According to the World Tourism Organization, Saudi Arabia ranked 13th among countries in the world in 2022. The desert kingdom received a total of 16.6 million tourist arrivals last year. Part of this came for the annual pilgrimage to Mecca in July, during which more than a million foreign Muslims – 1.8 million pilgrims – were registered in July this year.
Several multi-billion dollar projects are already underway
Saudi Arabia is not sparing money for the tourism breakthrough: dozens of projects worth billions of dollars are already being implemented in the country, and the total amount spent on development will exceed $100 billion. Seaside resorts are being built, residential areas are being built, ports and airports are being built, science and technology parks are being planned – and a new airline is being launched to make it all happen.
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Oxagon will be an industrial industrial city |
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Photo: NEOM |
In the spring of this year, Riyadh Airlines burst into the public consciousness by announcing that it would purchase 39 Dreamliners (Type 787-9) from Boeing, furthermore, options were stipulated for the purchase of another 33 aircraft. In a few years, the company will increase its fleet to 121 aircraft, which will serve 100 destinations by 2030. flight time.
But the launch of the Saudi airline is only one of the desert nation’s investments — and not even the most important. the Vision 2030 A whole series of attractions are being prepared as part of the “Christening” program – all in the spirit of 21st century entertainment.
The number one entertainment center in the world
Among the developments of Vision 2030, Qiddiya stands out, whose name is still unfamiliar to most people, but will soon become the world’s premier entertainment hub, bigger than Disney’s Florida empire.
In the huge empire consisting of amusement parks, water entertainment centers and sports facilities, visitors will naturally also find shopping malls, theaters and cinemas. The park, which is three times larger than Disney’s Florida empire, is being developed jointly with Texas-based Six Flags, and according to plans, the world’s largest roller coaster, Falcon’s Flight, and the most exciting water park will be created. Be here too.
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Six amusement parks will also be built in Qiddiya, and according to the plans, the investment will be completed by the end of 2024. |
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Photo: Qiddiya |
Even the names of the six parks being built in Qiddiya are catchy: Steam Town, Twilight Gardens, Discovery Springs, City Thrills, Valley of Fortune, and Grand Exposition. The construction of the first theme park, which will cost $750 million, has also begun in 2022.
A huge project on the Red Sea
And the NEOM project will not be boring either, as its dimensions are very huge. The area of the resort to be built next to the Red Sea will be larger than the size of Belgium, and in other comparisons, it will be 33 times larger than New York City. Here I dreamed of ports, technology and entertainment centers, and their construction has already begun.
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Trojena will be a center for wellness and skiing |
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Photo: NEOM |
The first part of the 840,000-square-meter luxury man-made island called Sindala will be delivered next year, where visitors will find everything from a yacht port to a golf course. The NEOM project will include a carbon-neutral city called The Line and Trogina, which will be developed into a spa and ski resort. Among the marine adventures that can be seen here, the largest coral garden in the world will stand out – all this is scheduled to be completed by 2030.
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The carbon-neutral city called The Line will be covered in glass walls |
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Photo: NEOM |
And the Saudis will not remain idly by until then, because the desert country will host the Asian Winter Games in 2029 and will also apply to host the World Expo 2030. The International Exhibitions Federation will decide on the last option in November this year – the three applicants are Italy and Korea. South and Saudi Arabia.
