In its latest report, the World Travel and Tourism Council has placed the Kingdom in the 23rd position in the world in terms of products for the economy and tourism. This indicates a bright future for investment in the Kingdom's tourism sector due to the attention and care this vital sector receives from the government. Fahd Bin Abdullah Al-Othaim, executive director of a real estate investment and development company in sectors of shopping centers and recreation cities, said tourism is the most important sector supporting the national economy. It is expected to become one of the most important economic resources, he added. Al-Othaim said tourism revenues in Saudi Arabia have exceeded SR70 billion and reached 6.5 percent of the non-oil gross domestic product. Tourism is growing rapidly and providing many job opportunities; it already provides almost 500,000 jobs of which more than 130,000 are occupied by Saudis, he said, adding that the sector is expected to provide more than 90,000 additional jobs by 2014. Al-Othaim, who said the flourishing tourism sector would stimulate many sectors related to it, expects spending this summer by Saudi nationals on domestic tourism to reach SR13.5 billion. Shopping centers and malls, among the most popular tourism and recreation destinations, play major role in attracting tourists from the Kingdom and other countries, he said. He pointed out that last summer, there were more than 12 million visitors to air-conditioned malls and that the number of visitors is expected to reach 14 million this year. During the summer season this year, the shopping complexes will host a number of festivals and activities that suit all segments of the society, he added. __
