Riyadh, February 28, 2024, Minister of Tourism, Ahmed bin Aqeel Al-Khateeb, expressed his appreciation for the Hilton Hotel Group's ambitious plan to expand its footprint in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, aiming to establish more than 60 hotels in the country over the coming years. This move aligns with the Ministry of Tourism's concerted efforts to attract prominent global hotel and hospitality brands, such as the Hilton Hotel Group, as part of Saudi Arabia's overarching strategy to augment its hotel room inventory to over 500,000 by 2030, thereby enhancing the quality of services offered to tourists.
In collaboration with the private sector, the ministry is actively engaged in enhancing the tourism infrastructure across the Kingdom. It remains steadfast in its commitment to fostering an environment conducive to attracting investors, prioritizing the sustainability and excellence of the tourism sector. With a target of accommodating 150 million tourists by 2030 and increasing the tourism sector's contribution to the GDP by 10%, the ministry is strategically focused on achieving these ambitious goals.
The significant expansion plans outlined by the Hilton Group present a remarkable opportunity for global investors. Chris Nassetta, Chairman and CEO of Hilton Group, lauded the Kingdom's dedication to enhancing its tourism infrastructure. He expressed the group's eagerness to broaden its presence in various destinations, highlighting that a considerable portion of the group's projects in the Kingdom are currently underway. The Hilton Group aims to quadruple its project portfolio across Saudi Arabia.
Nassetta emphasized that the proposed projects by the group could potentially generate approximately 10,000 job opportunities, with over half of these roles intended for Saudi citizens. He underscored the group's commitment to fostering a conducive work environment conducive to achieving objectives, along with collaborating with academic institutions to develop training programs aimed at equipping Saudi citizens with the necessary skills to secure permanent employment opportunities within the hospitality sector across the Kingdom.
