KSA requires 8,000 new tourist guides

Ambitious tourism arrival targets are to create employment growth for tourist guides in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia’s burgeoning tourism sector is expected to require more than 8,000 tour guides to cope with the anticipated growth in arrivals by 2030, an official has said.

A spokesperson for the Saudi Society for Tourist Guides (SSTG) claimed the number was needed to prepare the kingdom for the tourist arrival goals set by the nation's Vision 2030.

According to Arab News, there are only 500 people at present working as tour guides in the Kingdom, this figure includes mutawif (pilgrim guides).

The kingdom currently attracts approximately 200,000 tourists per year, but plans target 1.5 million by 2020, and the country aims to increase the revenue generated from tourism to 18% in the next 14 years.

Saudi Arabia currently reports an 11% unemployment rate, mostly affecting its large young population.