Latest news with #SaudiLand
Campaign ME
05-05-2025
- Business
- Campaign ME
Saudi Tourism partners with Careem, Fazaa and Stellar Marketing
At Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2025, the Saudi Tourism Authority (STA) signed 14 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs), including brand partnerships with Careem, Fazaa, and Stellar Marketing Solutions, as part of its ongoing effort to strengthen tourism infrastructure and expand its regional and international footprint. The partnerships reflect a wider strategy to integrate tourism with key consumer platforms and services, following a record year in which Saudi Arabia attracted nearly 116 million visitors. These brand collaborations aim to support Saudi's tourism offering through enhanced mobility, benefits-driven ecosystems, and targeted marketing. Careem's inclusion points to a mobility-first strategy, potentially easing transport access for visitors across Saudi's key destinations. Fazaa, known for its benefits platform for government and semi-government employees, may offer reach into regional consumer networks. Stellar Marketing Solutions is expected to contribute in the areas of campaign development and tourism-related communications. Other global partners signed at the event include international hotel groups Accor, IHG Hotels & Resorts, and Radisson Hotel Group, in addition to digital travel and ticketing platforms such as Hopper, Ticombo, and ViaKonnect. The agreements suggest STA is pursuing a multi-channel approach, combining physical hospitality infrastructure with digital access and distribution. Further partnerships were announced with premium airport service provider Altanfeethi, a Bahrain-based booking and experience platform Localbh, Travel service provider Rayna Tours, and entertainment and attractions platform SEVEN Experience. These 14 MoUs were accompanied by 52 additional agreements facilitated between Saudi tourism sector partners and international counterparts during ATM 2025. STA also hosted the immersive Saudi Land pavilion, which drew over 46,000 visitors and spotlighted upcoming seasonal campaigns, cultural attractions, and major upcoming events such as the Esports World Cup and FIFA World Cup 2034 preparations. The partnerships announced reflect a broader effort to align tourism growth with service accessibility, experience design, and global market engagement, as the Kingdom continues to position itself as a major international tourism hub.
Gulf Business
02-05-2025
- Business
- Gulf Business
Saudi Tourism Authority secures 14 key global MoUs at ATM 2025
Image: Supplied The Saudi Tourism Authority (STA) signed 14 memorandums of understanding (MoUs) and facilitated an additional 52 agreements between Saudi partners and international tourism entities at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2025. Building on its record achievement of welcoming nearly 116 million visitors in 2024, STA used the four-day trade show to unveil new strategic partnerships, promote the country's expanding tourism offerings, and spotlight opportunities for international collaboration. 'We came to Major partnerships and expanding reach Among the 14 MoUs signed, key partnerships were established with global hotel giants Accor, IHG Hotels & Resorts, and Radisson Hotel Group. Agreements were also secured with leading digital travel platforms including Hopper, Ticombo, and ViaKonnect. Additional partnerships with Careem, Fazaa, Altanfeethi, Localbh, Rayna Tours, SEVEN Experience, and Stellar Marketing Solutions aim to boost connectivity and regional tourism development. STA also enabled 52 MoUs between Saudi and international tourism stakeholders, reinforcing its private sector-driven approach. Saudi Land pavilion draws 46,000 visitors at ATM The 'Saudi Land' pavilion attracted over 46,000 visitors and featured immersive activations promoting summer destinations like Aseer, Al Baha, Soudah, and Taif. Highlights included a tunnel exhibit contrasting coastal escapes with cool mountainous retreats, cultural heritage corners with live Bisht weaving and music, and previews of global events including the Esports World Cup and FIFA World Cup 2034 venues. Cristiano Ronaldo's personal Saudi travel itinerary was also featured, drawing attention to the kingdom's growing appeal among international travellers. Regional engagement and APAC Focus STA's leadership also engaged in high-level discussions during the event. Fahd Hamidaddin met with senior figures from Abu Dhabi's Department of Culture and Tourism to explore regional collaboration. On the final day, Alhasan Aldabbagh, president of Asia Pacific at STA, participated in the 'APAC Market Impact' panel, discussing Saudi's initiatives to attract more visitors from China and India, including targeted digital campaigns and enhanced religious tourism experiences. STA to continue momentum with $800bn tourism commitment The $800bn government-backed tourism investment plan remains central to Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, as the country diversifies its economy and opens up to international markets. 'We have only just begun,' Hamidaddin said, inviting global players to participate in shaping the next chapter of Saudi tourism.
Leaders
30-04-2025
- Business
- Leaders
Jeddah Season Joins Arabian Travel Market 2025 in Dubai
Jeddah Season is taking part in the Arabian Travel Market 2025, one of the world's most prominent events in the travel industry, taking place in Dubai, the UAE. Running from April 28 to May 1, 2025, the Arabian Travel Market brings together more than 2,800 exhibitors and over 55,000 travel industry experts from 166 countries, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA). Jeddah Season participates under the 'Saudi Land' pavilion to foster communication with the event's visitors, estimated at 47,000 visitors over its four-day duration. To this end, Jeddah Season showcases its new identity 'Jeddah Ghair' (Jeddah like no other). Moreover, it highlights its unique events, including City Walk and the Jeddah Shopping Festival, as well as entertainment, cultural and sports events. The events of Jeddah Season establish the Red Sea city of Jeddah as a prime destination for tourism, culture, entertainment and sports. They also bolster its status as a global host for major events. This contributes to realizing the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, which include transforming the Kingdom's cities into global tourist destinations. Under the theme ' Global Travel: Developing Tomorrow's Tourism Through Enhanced Connectivity,' the Arabian Travel Market 2025 focuses on highlighting the role of connectivity in shaping the global travel and tourism sector. Thus, it aims to emphasize the importance of interlinking nations, industries, and communities to redefine the tourism landscape and drive sustainable practices essential for the future of travel. Short link : Post Views: 21
Arab News
29-04-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Saudi Arabia steps into global spotlight at Arabian Travel Market
RIYADH: At the unveiling of its new Saudi Land pavilion during this year's Arabian Travel Market in Dubai, Saudi Arabia and AlUla in particular have turned heads. Held from April 28 to May 1 at the Dubai World Trade Center, AlUla's presence at ATM is highlighting its rapid transformation and new partnerships with industry leaders. The appearance follows the success of AlUla's first international marketing campaign under the theme 'Forever Revitalizing,' which began in early 2024. Aimed at reintroducing the world to AlUla's deep historical roots and natural beauty, the campaign ran across nine countries in six languages. Melanie de Souza, executive director of destination marketing at the Royal Commission for AlUla, said the city's global profile has grown significantly thanks to the campaign. 'Expanded airline connectivity, more hotels and a packed events calendar have all helped us keep up with growing interest,' she said in a statement. The campaign highlighted the city's ancient ruins, striking desert landscapes and growing cultural offerings through dramatic films, rich imagery and storytelling. The ancient oasis city-turned-cultural tourism hotspot welcomed more than 286,000 visitors in 2024, 72 percent of them domestic and 28 percent international. Online interest in AlUla surged, with website visits up 8.5 times and bookings climbing 220 percent, leading to a 240 percent jump in revenue. AlUla is also investing in the future. By the end of 2025, it plans to expand its accommodation capacity to more than 1,400 rooms, while committing to Vision 2030's sustainability goals. De Souza added: 'Our focus remains on developing a destination premised on sustainability and aligned with Saudi Vision 2030. At ATM, we will showcase why AlUla stands out as one of the most purposeful and forward-thinking destinations globally.' Visitors to AlUla's stand at ATM can experience a number of attractions. At the Arabian Leopard experience, guests can learn about local wildlife conservation efforts and vote to name a future leopard cub for a chance to win a two-night trip. Names are being transliterated into the ancient Dadanite script at the Echoes of AlUla attraction, while the Rawi storytelling section is a space to listen to traditional tales passed down through generations. The Saudi Tourism Authority is also showcasing the Kingdom's rich diversity at ATM, from coastal escapes to mountain retreats and world-class sporting events. Fahd Hamidaddin, CEO of the authority, said in a statement: 'We are thrilled to return to ATM, opening the doors to Saudi Land, and welcoming our valued partners from around the globe.'
Zawya
27-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Building on record growth, Saudi Tourism gears up for a bold summer season with its partners at ATM 2025
Saudi will be showcasing its unique and diverse summer destination offerings including pristine beaches, lush mountains and international events including the Esports World Cup Having welcomed 116 million visitors in 2024, Saudi tourism offers trade partners an unrivaled opportunity for sustained growth and increased business volume. Dubai, UAE: The Saudi Tourism Authority (STA) will showcase Saudi's unique and diverse summer destinations designed to drive business for its trade partners at this year's Arabian Travel Market (ATM) this week - as the country's tourism sector continues to go from strength to strength creating significant opportunities for trade. Representatives from Saudi's booming tourism sector will be attending the Middle East's biggest travel and tourism trade show that kicks off in Dubai today to build awareness of Saudi's summer destination offering, strengthen and establish new trade partnerships, and highlight the remarkable growth potential available to business partners working with Saudi. Saudi's ATM 2025 delegation will be led by Fahd Hamidaddin, CEO and Board Member of STA, and will bring together 51 partners from across the tourism sector at Saudi Land, including top destination management companies, hoteliers, airlines, and major destinations ready to facilitate business transactions. The delegation will be showcasing Saudi's distinctive summer destinations and packages to trade partners and consumers in the GCC region and underlining Saudi's status as a premier year-round tourism destination, with a strategic focus on priority markets such as Middle East and Africa and Asia-Pacific. Over the summer season, Saudi offers a unique and diverse range of activities and destinations that translate into attractive bookable products for partners, ranging from the pristine beaches of the Saudi Red Sea, the rich culture of Jeddah, the excitement and bustle of Riyadh, and a global events program like no other, including the Esports World Cup starting this summer. Saudi's mountainous regions including the tranquil and picturesque destinations of Aseer, Taif, and Al Baha also provide a refreshing escape during the summer season with cool weather and lush nature. These serene retreats are ideal for adventure travellers who seek natural beauty, wildlife, hiking trails, and cultural experiences. Fahd Hamidaddin, CEO and Board Member of STA, said: "Our participation in ATM this year provides an important opportunity to connect with our valued trade partners, build knowledge around the diverse destinations that have made Saudi the fastest-growing tourism destination in the world, and drive tangible business results. Front and center of that will be showcasing Saudi as a unique summer destination, offering an action-packed events calendar, cool mountain regions for adventurer seekers, and pristine beaches for families and those looking to relax. These represent strong product pillars for our partners to build compelling packages. 'Having welcomed 116 million visitors in 2024, an increase of 6.4% compared with 2023, Saudi is the land of now - offering growth and opportunities like no other to trade partners across the globe. Our presence here is focused on enabling our trade partners to capitalize on this momentum. We encourage all potential and existing partners to visit Saudi Land and connect with our team to explore how we can grow together. Over the coming days, we look forward to building new long-lasting partnerships, sharing knowledge, and showcasing the wealth of opportunities Saudi has to offer." Building on the success of last year's presence at ATM, this year's Saudi Land exhibit will be set across two floors with partners showcasing hundreds of affordable, mid-market and luxury bookable products for destinations such as Jeddah, AlUla, Aseer, Riyadh, and the Red Sea. Visitors can engage with unique activations including an immersive destination tunnel, live summer deals, previews of the Esports World Cup and FIFA World Cup 2034™, featured itineraries, and enjoy cultural performances throughout the event. The diversity of Saudi will also be showcased with an interactive Saudi map and activities calendar providing practical tools to help partners market the destination. At ATM 2025, Mr. Fahd Hamidaddin will be delivering a keynote address about how Saudi is a leader in the global shift towards 'connection-driven' travel. This also serves as an opportunity to highlight Saudi's recent tourism infrastructure developments and increased global connectivity, emphasizing the ease of doing business and bringing visitors to the country. STA and its partners are aiming to build on the successes of last year's ATM which saw the Saudi Tourism Authority win a Best Stand Design Award. Saudi presents trade partners with an unparalleled opportunity for sustained growth. Notably, the country achieved a significant milestone by welcoming 116 million visitors in 2024. Together with partners, STA is building knowledge of Saudi's destination offerings to consumers, to address barriers to destination knowledge and welcome more visitors than ever to the country, bolstering Saudi's position as a leading global tourism destination and driving progress towards its revised target of 150 million visits by 2030. About Saudi Tourism Authority (STA): Saudi Tourism Authority, launched in June 2020, is responsible for marketing Saudi's tourism destinations worldwide and developing the destination's offerings through programs, packages, and business support. Its mandate includes developing the country's unique assets and destinations, hosting and participating in industry events, and promoting Saudi's destination brand locally and overseas. STA operates 16 representative offices around the world, serving 38 countries. To learn more please visit
