UNWTO lauds Saudi Tourism achievements

Astana, October 10, SPA -- The United Nations' World Tourism
Organization (UNWTO), has lauded the development of tourism sector in
the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during the year 2009.
The facts and figures report showed a hike of the given numbers,
which reflected the success of Saudi efforts to promote sustainable
tourism, focusing on domestic tourism to elevate tourism services to
the international standards, through the establishment of
professional tourism associations to be responsible for the
development of tourism related to human resources, and the
establishment of a committee to oversee the tourism training programs
in collaboration with Human Resources Development Fund and Ministry
of Labor.

SCTA's report entitled "The road map for the promotion of tourism and
travel (the primary means of job creation and economic recovery)",
which was presented to the ministers and officials from 153 Member
States of the Organization, indicated that Saudi government had
increased the budget allocation of the tourism sector by 11% to SR
385 million in the fiscal year 2009, and also approved bank-financing
of small and medium-sized antiquities projects.

It is noteworthy that Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz,
President of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA)
has led the Saudi delegation to the 18th session of the general
Assembly of United Nations' World Tourism Organization recently
concluded in Kazakhstan Capital.
--SPA
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