JEDDAH: Prince Sultan Bin Salman, President of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA), has said that extra events are planned to accompany the Saudi International Boat Show to turn it in the future into a celebration of “maritime heritage”. Speaking to Okaz/Saudi Gazette following the opening of the Saudi International Boat Show 2010 Wednesday by Jeddah Governor Prince Mish'al Bin Majed, Prince Sultan said he hoped the exhibition would become an “international economic event”. “We also hope to make it a national one as well, in that it will provide a platform for local tourism by attracting public from abroad,” the prince said. “Marine tourism in the Kingdom is a treasure trove we need to invest, so we will be launching a range of maritime tourism projects soon.” The four-day Saudi International Boat Show 2010 is the second staging of the exhibition, which head organizer Prince Abdullah Bin Saud said he expected to attract over 30,000 visitors. “It's a unique event in one of the most important leisure and marine industries in Jeddah,” Prince Abdullah said. “It will provide more job opportunities both regionally and internationally following on from the success of last year's inaugural Boat Show.” He said that the number of companies involved in the show has gone up to 135, representing 19 countries, from the previous year's 88. “There is also a strong North American, European and Australian presence this year.” He added that maritime projects in the Gulf are expected to exceed a value of $35 billion by 2013. “Three of those projects are here in the Kingdom, and leaders in the global marine and leisure industry have begun to set their sights on the Kingdom,” Prince Sultan said. Abdullah Qassim, head of the Dubai World Trade Center which is also organizing the event with Al-Ahlam Marine Tourism Group and SCTA backing, said the marine industry was continuing to gain momentum and interest in the Middle East, but particularly in Saudi Arabia.
