Saudi Arabia has a lofty 2030 vision. In a special interview with India Today, Alhasan Aldabbagh of the Saudi Tourism Authority disclosed that the nation expects to host 7.5 million Indian tourists by 2030.
According to Alhasan Aldabbagh, Saudi Arabia is prepared to entertain 7.5 million Indian visitors by 2030.
The cornerstone of Saudi Arabia’s ambitious Vision 2030 is tourism. By 2030, the nation anticipates hosting 7.5 million Indian tourists from the commercial, leisure, and religious sectors.
The cornerstone of Saudi Arabia’s ambitious Vision 2030 is tourism. By 2030, the nation anticipates hosting 7.5 million Indian tourists from the commercial, leisure, and religious sectors.
Various sporting events and concerts are part of this vigorous tourist campaign, according to Alhasan Aldabbagh, president of APAC markets at the Saudi Tourist Authority.
India Today had an interview with Alhasan Aldabbagh when he was in the capital for SATTE.
Alhasan Aldabbagh, Saudi Tourism Authority’s president of APAC markets
In a half-hour conversation, Aldabbagh informs us that ‘discussions were on’ about the transportation of several popstars to Saudi Arabia. We inquire as to whether Taylor Swift was one of these names, and he responds, “We’ll see… maybe there will be some good news soon.”
However, Saudi Arabia is a really interesting place to go, Taylor Swift or not. The nation is completely focused on achieving Vision 2030.
A new Saudi Arabia will emerge from the desert by 2030 as Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman accelerates infrastructure, tourism, and development. Saudi Arabia is focusing its tourist efforts on the east, with India at the forefront of its intentions to expand.
“I think we need to understand the people whether your goals and aspirations for a market like India are genuine. Furthermore, if we have a better understanding of the people and their differences—and India is a large market with a variety of cities, geographical locations, cultures, languages, and religions—we will be able to provide more regionally specific offerings. And in doing so, we’ll really establish ourselves as one of the top travel destinations in India,”
adds Aldabbagh.
Currently, everything Saudi Arabia does is in line with its Vision 2030. Saudi Tourism would saturate your screen with sponsored advertisements if you went on any social media platform, including Facebook, Instagram, or X. Naturally, tourism plays a significant role in Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 given the active and extensive advertising.
“The vision is based on three pillars: a dynamic society, an aspirational nation, and a thriving economy. Tourism is interconnected with all three of these pillars.” Since tourism links everything, you will see that it is a component of each and every pillar, according to Aldabbagh.
“Borders must be opened to let more individuals visit Saudi Arabia and establish personal connections. And after that, chances will present themselves. People will begin to collaborate in the arts and other fields, such as technology, science, and literature, as well as in commercial partnerships. And economies grow in this way. As a result, it spurs the growth of other industries “
says Aldabbagh.
He walks us around this city, which gets its name from the first three letters of the Ancient Greek word neo, which means “new,” after we question him about a recent viral “insane” video of The Line in Neom and The Line. The initial “M” in Neom comes from the Arabic word “Mustaqbal,” which means “future.”
The New Future of Saudi Arabia is a future metropolis reminiscent of Mega Cities, maybe inspired by “The Matrix.” The world is watching this crazily ambitious initiative called Neom.
For instance, The Line, a metropolis enclosed by two parallel towers covered in mirrors, would cross more than 170 kilometers of desert and mountainous terrain.
“Today, Neom is a well-recognized initiative on a worldwide scale. The Line is one of the giga-infrastructures that are in the works; other examples include Oxagon, an industrial region fueled by hydrogen plants; Trojena, which will host the Asian Winter Cup in 2029; and Sindalah, which is scheduled to open in Q4 of this year. It’s a stunning island with a number of villas, a cutting-edge yacht club, a complete golf course, shopping, and eating options. Thus, it will be something really unique “
says Aldabbagh.
By 2030, Saudi Arabia anticipates a six-fold rise in the number of visitors from India. We inquired how they intend to accomplish this goal.
According to Aldabbagh, 1.5 million Indian tourists visited Saudi Arabia in the previous year. These visitors included those on business, those traveling for pleasure, and those doing the Umrah. The number of leisure trips is rapidly increasing, and by 2030, we want to reach 7.5 million.”
“The primary method by which we are doing that is by simplifying the process of reaching Saudi Arabia. We are thereby expanding air connection. We’re expanding the number of current flights by establishing new routes that link Saudi Arabia with new cities. And we’re simplifying the visa process. Thus, anyone may apply for a visa via our VFS offices. We are planning to increase the ten of them that we now have. The application procedure is much more straightforward. In three days, you may have it “
said Aldabbagh.
Are they considering allowing bearers of Indian passports to enter Saudi Arabia without a visa?
“Anyone with a valid visa from the US, the UK, or Schengen may now get an electronic visa or a visa upon arrival. The program for stopovers is free. Thus, a free 96-hour visa, good for up to four days, is available to anybody using Flynas to travel via Saudi Arabia and halt in Saudi, according to Aldabbagh.
Bujjairi Terrace in Diriyah’s At-Turaif neighborhood. Image courtesy of Saudi Tourism
Bujjairi Terrace in Diriyah’s At-Turaif neighborhood. Image courtesy of Saudi Tourism
“We now provide a wide range of products that address various market niches. Whether they are traveling in groups, as a small family or group of friends, or even by themselves. In order to create such packages, we worked together with our Indian travel partners, tour operators, and travel agencies to craft these experiences and itineraries to suit Indian travelers,”
adds Aldabbagh.
We inquire as to what the top 5 must-see locations in Saudi Arabia are if one were to go there today.
“There are several options, and it really depends on the traveler’s profile. Thus, the families constitute the largest component, according to Aldabbagh.
What about the female millennial who travels alone?
It’s fascinating. There are a growing number of independent female travelers visiting Saudi Arabia, dispelling the myth that the country is dangerous and traditional, which couldn’t be farther from the truth. An increasing number of independent female travelers are visiting Saudi Arabia and exchanging amazing tales, recollections, and life lessons.
“People adore visiting AlUla. It’s very lovely. It’s known as the Open Museum. It has a long history that goes back thousands of years from when it was known as the Nebatean civilization. Furthermore, all of the activities and resorts are a part of nature.
“We’re protecting nature and putting you in the middle of nature so that you get this authentic experience – whether it’s stargazing or climbing the mountains, or having a romantic dinner… these are the kind of unparalleled experiences that are part of what the solo travelers are reporting to be one of the best,”
says Aldabbagh.
How about underwater diving?
“We love scuba diving! The Red Sea is home to one of the most breathtaking diving locations on the planet. He adds, “The Red Sea is renowned for its colorful fish and corals.
Considering that the Red Sea has seen a significant number of shark encounters, how is the shark scene?
There haven’t been any reports of potentially harmful sharks in this area. In actuality, the majority of them are nurse sharks [no, nursing sharks are not hazardous]. Thus, I’m relieved that there haven’t been any significant shark-related incidents or mishaps. Overall, divers from all over the globe have made it a highly sought-after diving location, according to Aldabbagh.
“Now that the Red Sea development has opened for business, we have Sis Senses and St Regis.” There are fantastic new places that haven’t been visited yet. Many divers are grateful for this. They want to see the uncharted, undiscovered regions, claims Aldabbagh.
Indeed, the fourth-largest coral reef in the world is found in Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea. People are searching for new places to go swimming as the Great Barrier Reef struggles with degradation.
There are a number of upscale resorts in Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea that will open before 2030. Image courtesy of Saudi Tourism
There are a number of upscale resorts in Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea that will open before 2030. Image courtesy of Saudi Tourism
We now address the most pressing issue, which is alcohol. How does Saudi Arabia intend to greet millennials, Gen Z, business, and leisure travelers who would want to partake in a few drinks? As for Aldabbagh, ‘that remains the case’—alcohol is prohibited in Saudi Arabia.
“We believe that we will make you so occupied and interested in Saudi, with the rich cultural experiences, that alcohol will be the last thing on your mind!” Aldabbagh chuckles.
What cultural considerations need to be kept in mind by an Indian tourist visiting Saudi Arabia?
“We want everyone to feel accepted, regardless of their characteristics, including all ages, genders, and ethnic origins. to experience a sense of belonging. We are welcoming individuals into our homes, to use our tagline. Not only are we opening up our nation. Our residences are opening. Saudi Arabians are naturally incredibly welcoming people since it’s in their DNA. Eons ago, people used to welcome nomads in their homes. even though they’re strangers. They provided them with food and shelter till they carried on with their trip. This is ingrained in our DNA,”
Aldabbagh claims
As a result, visitors visiting Saudi Arabia are now welcomed with open arms, and many individuals extend invitations to them to stay in their homes. Thus, this is our actual approach to treating individuals,” said Aldabbagh.
Indeed, a commonality between Arab and Indian DNA is their love of hospitality.
“Definitely! We share a great deal of values. And for good reason—we believe Saudi Arabia is amazing. There are similarities between us. Both Saudi Arabia and India place a high importance on family values. People’s hobbies and experiences are even comparable. Kids’ amusements are also quite popular in Saudi. And for this reason, he continues, India is one of our main priority markets.
We ask Aldabbagh what the luxury traveler would find most appealing in Saudi Arabia.
“A lot is present. Luxury is being redefined by us. Luxurious travel involves more than simply lavish accommodations and resorts—it also involves engaging in genuine experiences. Being exclusive is just one aspect of luxury; another is environmentally friendly travel. And we’re incorporating all three of these ideals into the design of every new product that we have in the works,”
‘We make sure that we are genuine and honest with the locals at all of the resorts and hotels. For this reason, you’ll notice that the architecture embraces and adopts both local and Saudi themes. To convey that culture as well, they are employing locals to work in the hospitality sector. That’s how a genuine experience is made. In terms of how we’re supplying these resorts with electricity, sustainability is also crucial as it ensures that we’re protecting the environment,”
says Aldabbagh.
You know, thousands of years ago, the whole region of AlUla was underwater. The mountains’ topography is quite strangely formed. Thus, some of them, but not all of them, are enormous at the top and very thin at the bottom. They have a distinct cone form. Imagine that your accommodation is directly in front of it now. In this exquisite arrangement. It’s not everywhere, Aldabbagh claims.
The all-time great Lionel Messi has agreed to serve as Saudi Arabia’s worldwide ambassador. Thus, he was only a subject of inescapable discussion. Aldabbagh explains to us how Messi’s involvement has dispelled a lot of myths about Saudi Arabia.
“Many believe that Saudi Arabia is a desert country. However, the genuine Saudi Arabia lies in its desert region. Numerous stunning desert camps that are designed to be opulent, cozy, and thrilling exist. However, Saudi Arabia is home to several locations that are genuinely mountains. We have snow, did you know that?” Alhasan queries.
Indeed, Trojena is the host city for the Asian Winter Cup in 2029. And without snow, a Winter Cup is not going to happen, promise! According to its website, Trojena is a part of Neom “where year-round temperatures are generally 10 degrees cooler than the rest of the region” and winter temperatures often fall below zero.
There are mountains in Saudi Arabia’s south where the climate is good all year round. Apart from that, a lot is going on. We can declare with confidence now that Saudi Arabia is among the world’s trendiest travel destinations. Both in the summer and the winter, there are plenty of events. We have the city, the boulevard in Riyadh, and activations. In addition, we bring a lot of concerts, Formula 1 soccer, and sporting events to Saudi Arabia. We also organize a lot of sports competitions. And in cricket, perhaps very soon,” adds Alhasan, before we quickly get to the Swift question.
It would be a tourist triumph of sorts if Saudi Arabia is able to bring Swift for an event, which is hopefully soon, as Aldabbagh indicates to us. Until then, Saudi Arabia has plenty of sights to see, as the ancient world coexists peacefully with the contemporary day.
