Saudi Arabia expects revenue from tourism to increase 4.8% in 2010 as the kingdom tries to attract more visitors and religious pilgrims, according to the official Saudi Press Agency.
Tourism revenue will reach SR66bn ($17.6bn) and rise to SR118bn in 2015, the Riyadh- based news service stated, citing Saleh al-Bakhit, the deputy chairman for investments at the Saudi Commission for Tourism & Antiquities.
Saudi Arabia wants to develop its tourism industry as it tries to diversify its economy away from oil and also to create employment for its youth.
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Saudi nationals represented 117,384 of the 457,658 people employed by the tourism industry at the end of 2009, according to Al-Bakhit.
The report added that the Riyadh-based tourism commission wants to attract increased investment in the sector and will start a development company to identify new opportunities in the kingdom.
Saudi Arabia attracts around 2 million visitors a year for the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, but the commission also wants to promote its Red Sea coastline and historical sites as tourist destinations.
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