Current location:style >>
Middle East nations to enhance tourism ties with China
style454People have gathered around
IntroductionCountries in the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia and Qatar, are working to strengthen their part ...
Countries in the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia and Qatar, are working to strengthen their partnership with China in the tourism sector, which holds significant potential for growth between the two regions.
"China is one of the most critical and important markets for Saudi Arabia, especially to achieve its 2030 vision. It's going to be (one of) the top two source markets," said Alhasan Aldabbagh, president of Asia-Pacific markets at the Saudi Tourism Authority.
Saudi Arabia unveiled its ambitious economic diversification plan, Vision 2030, in 2016 with a focus on tourism. The target is to attract 150 million visitors by 2030 and have tourism contribute to 10 percent of its GDP. Among the total number of visitors, the kingdom aims to attract 3 million visitors from China by 2030.
"We understand the importance (of Chinese tourists). We understand what Chinese travelers are looking for, and we would love to welcome them to experience a true home in Saudi Arabia," Aldabbagh told China Daily.
Noting the high potential for growth, the official said, by 2030, India will be the first market of inbound tourism for Saudi Arabia, followed by China.
According to the tourism authority, more than 4.1 million travelers from the Asia-Pacific region visited Saudi Arabia in the first eight months of this year, a 15 percent jump from the same period in 2019. The country is aiming to welcome at least 7.9 million visitors from the region this year.
Philip Dickinson, vice-president of international markets at Qatar Tourism, said Qatar is investing heavily into promoting itself in China, hoping to take advantage of the tourism boom brought by its hosting of the 2022 FIFA World Cup to increase Chinese tourists' awareness of the country.
"We have 15 priority markets globally and China is one of them, being placed in the 'tier one' group," he said.
Dickinson said tourism authorities of the Middle Eastern country are adopting a "360-degree approach" to attract more foreign travelers from the "tier one" group markets, which cover some 24 countries. The comprehensive strategy aims to reach out to international tourists, both by working with industry players and by increasing the country's exposure directly to individuals.
"We have dedicated representative offices in those markets, and we have a larger percentage of our overall marketing spending on campaigns in those markets as well. We also additionally do tactical campaigns there," Dickinson said.
These campaigns, he added, cover consumer marketing and public relations across different digital and social channels.
Chinese tourists have shown much enthusiasm for traveling to Qatar, particularly after the country became the first in the Middle East to host the soccer World Cup last year.
According to statistics from Qatar Tourism, 67,000 tourists from China visited Qatar in 2019 before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The number of Chinese travelers to Qatar reached 40,000 over the first eight months of this year.
China announced an expansion to the list of outbound destinations for tour groups in August, covering 78 destinations worldwide including Qatar, which has laid the groundwork for growth of Chinese tourists to the Gulf nation.
Tags:
Reprint:Friends are welcome to share on the Internet, but please indicate the source of the article when reprinting it.“Stellar Station news portal”。http://tonga.downmusic.org/news-55e099881.html
Related articles
Julian Assange's five
styleWikiLeaks founder Julian Assange's five-year battle against extradition to the US for espionage char ...
【style】
Read moreIsrael: Benjamin Netanyahu protests put political divides back on show
styleBy Jeremy Bowen, BBC international editor, in JerusalemA placard-carrying protester during a gatheri ...
【style】
Read moreACC admits it failed amputee over unpaid entitlements
styleAnn Nicholl and Karen Sinclair, the family of Alexandra man Alan Keith Nicholl, have fought ACC for ...
【style】
Read more
Popular articles
- Target starts price war with Walmart by slashing the cost of 5,000 popular items
- Scammers pose as police officers in attempt to get financial information
- Alec Baldwin waved gun around on Rust film set before fatal shooting, court hears
- Video shows raid on ship near Strait of Hormuz that a Mideast official says was carried out by Iran
- Auburn running back Brian Battie on ventilator after weekend shooting in Florida, coach says
- Ukraine could face defeat in 2024. Here's how that might look
Latest articles
Macron is making a surprise trip to New Caledonia amid deadly unrest and indigenous frustration
Hamas says it will continue negotiating for ceasefire as Ramadan nears
'We simply cannot afford to': Hawke's Bay leaders desperate for cyclone
TVNZ's Sunday cancelled, broadcaster confirms
David Ortiz is humbled by being honored in New York again; this time for post
Death of 8
LINKS
- Spring gala held in Hong Kong
- Vision China highlights crucial role of science and technology
- Huawei Indonesia opens 5G center to boost digital transformation technologies
- Experts call for more efforts in robotics
- More air routes using homegrown aircraft C919
- How China's new energy competitiveness becomes its new sin
- Xi Meets President of Brazil's Chamber of Deputies
- Economic blueprint enthuses MNC execs
- Discount retailers making mark among price
- Shopping trend takes retail sector by storm