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SAUDIA Group Allocates Over 1.2 Million Seats for Pilgrims During Hajj Season 2023

May 15, 2023 by PressEditor

SAUDIA is emphasizing its commitment to joining efforts with government entities to serve pilgrims.

SAUDIA group will be transporting pilgrims from more than 100 scheduled and 14 seasonal destinations to 6 airports in the Kingdom in Jeddah, Riyadh, Dammam, Medina, Taif, and Yanbu. The 8 thousand cockpits and cabin crew can speak 42 different languages and will graciously serve the guests during their trips, reflecting the generous nature of Saudi hospitality.

The plan ensures synergy from all SAUDIA Group subsidiaries, especially those concerned with providing services to pilgrims, specifically Saudia Aerospace Engineering Industries (SAEI), Saudi Ground Services (SGS), and Saudi Airlines Catering Company (SACC), all of which will operate at total capacity and around the clock throughout the Hajj season.

SAUDIA aims to provide the best air transport and logistic services and other integrated services across all locations through digital platforms and qualified personnel to serve pilgrims upon arrival and departure.

Mr. Amer Alkhushail, Chief Hajj and Umrah Officer at SAUDIA Group said: “Through our accumulated experience, capable employees, and our relentless pursuit to offer the best technical services that guarantee a smooth travel experience, SAUDIA Group is ready to implement a new Hajj plan. This operational plan is in line with the directives of the Supreme Hajj Committee, headed by His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz, Minister of Interior; the Central Hajj Committee, headed by His Royal Highness Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Advisor to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, Governor of Makkah Region; and in cooperation with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and the Pilgrim Experience Program.”

Al Khushail also highlighted the importance of integrating performance with various government stakeholders at airports like the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) along with all companies involved in organizing Hajj trips inside and outside the Kingdom. Al Khushail revealed that Prince Mohammad Bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Medina would receive the first flights arriving in the Kingdom on May 21.

Recently, SAUDIA Group has concluded a number of agreements with various authorities to serve pilgrims in many countries as part of its endeavor to increase its operational share and invest in its reputation by providing air transport services in a distinct spiritual atmosphere.

In addition, SAUDIA Group aims to achieve operational efficiency while fully complying with safety standards, which are its top priorities. The company has mobilized its human and digital capabilities to provide the best services and implement the plan through various paths, including the performance monitoring team, the terminal operations center team, as well as the team in charge of the follow-up and pre-coordination with all sectors and relevant authorities. All these teams work around the clock and with direct follow-up from SAUDIA’s senior leadership.

SAUDIA Group provides pilgrims with many distinguished services, including the issuance of boarding passes for the arrival and return flights from international departure and domestic terminals; staffing King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA) in Jeddah and Prince Mohammad Bin Abdulaziz International Airport (Madinah Airport) with navigators and employees fluent in the various languages; arranging the dispatch of Zamzam water bottles to various destinations; and providing additional flights for pilgrims wishing to travel to Medina by air.

This is offered in addition to securing the operational requirements, including staff, labor, and ground equipment, in proportion to the size of the operation. Therefore, SAUDIA Group has been working on training all front-line employees in the areas of Hajj protocol, crowd management, dealing with crises, and responding to emergency plans.

As part of its endeavor to provide pilgrims with comprehensive services and enrich their travel experience, SAUDIA has updated its in-flight Islamic content, including religious programs, especially those dedicated to raising awareness of Hajj. The updates include more than 134 hours of various religious programs and 590 hours of Quran recitations, in addition to many Islamic programs available in several languages such as Arabic, English, Indonesian, Chinese, and other languages spoken by pilgrims. Moreover, SAUDIA’s Inflight Entertainment system offers a unique collection of educational e-books on performing Hajj and Umrah in more than 14 languages.

SAUDIA Group has also expanded its Hajj season plan activities to include sharing awareness messages to pilgrims in their languages through the official means in their countries, Hajj missions and organizations in Makkah and Madinah across Hajj residences.

In these messages, the company clarifies all matters related to the pilgrims’ journey, including baggage, its weights, and sizes, as well as mechanisms for accepting it at airports upon departure after the end of the Hajj, to facilitate their procedures beyond expectations.

More news about SAUDIA

MEDIA CONTACT:  SAUDIA, Corporate Communications, 800-472-8342, [email protected]

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Filed Under: Travel & Tourism Tagged With: saudia

Saudi tourism sector worth over $70 billion in 2019

April 10, 2019 by Forimmediaterelease

Saudi Arabia’s travel and tourism sector is expected to contribute $70.9 billion (SAR 263.1 billion) in total to the country’s GDP in 2019, according to data from the World Travel and Tourism Council, as exhibitors prepare to showcase what the Kingdom has to offer at this year’s Arabian Travel Market (ATM), which is being held at the Dubai World Trade Centre from 28 April – 1 May 2019.

According to data from ATM’s research partner Colliers, international arrivals to Saudi Arabia are expected to increase 5.6% per year from 17.7 million in 2018 to 23.3 million in 2023. Religious tourism is expected to remain the bedrock of the sector over the next decade, with a goal of attracting 30 million pilgrims to the Kingdom by 2030, an increase of 11 million from the 19 million Hajj and Umrah pilgrims that visited the country in 2017.

Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market, said: “At ATM, we are witnessing this growth first hand with the total number of delegates arriving from Saudi Arabia increasing 42% between 2017 and 2018, while 33% of delegates, exhibitors and attendees were interested in doing business with the Kingdom.

“More relaxed access to visas, through online portals such as the ‘Sharek’ and the growth of the Umrah plus market – combining religious and leisure travel – are expected to be key drivers in the growth of international tourism in the Kingdom.”

Vision 2030 has set aside $64 billion to invest in culture, leisure and entertainment projects over the next decade, which will significantly add to the attractiveness of the country as a touristic destination, according to a recent report from real estate firm Savills.

The first phase of the Red Sea project, which is estimated to grow the kingdom’s GDP by US$5.86 billion (SAR22 billion) and will consist of an airport, marinas, up to 3,000 hotel rooms and various recreational activities, is expected to complete during 2022.

Additionally, last year Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund announced the development of Amaala, a new ultra-luxury tourism megaproject which is earmarked for completion in 2028. The development will add 2,500 hotel rooms – further boosting the accommodation offering for both domestic and international visitors alike.

“Saudi Arabia will see a vast expansion of its hotel and resort inventory during 2019, with over 9,000 keys of three, four and five-star international supply expected to enter the market despite major cities such as Riyadh and Jeddah experiencing an overall drop in ADR during 2018.

“While, this new supply will place additional competitive pressure on hotels performance across the country, the projected growth in visitor numbers in both the domestic and international markets is expected to boost occupancy levels throughout 2019,” added Curtis.

Looking ahead to ATM 2019, Saudi exhibitors, who will highlight what the Kingdom has to offer and the exciting developments in the pipeline, include The Red Sea Development Company, Saudia – Saudi Arabian Airlines, Makarem Hotels, AlfaOne Concierge – and of course the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage who will have a major presence too.

A focused seminar titled ‘Why Tourism is Saudi’s new ‘White Oil’ will take place on the Global Stage on Monday 29th April between 14.50 – 15:50.  The session will discuss Saudi Arabia’s tourism potential as the Kingdom undergoes a period of rapid economic diversification and forges ahead with its Vision 2030 blueprint.

The upbeat tourism forecast is also being driven, by domestic tourism with the number of local tourist trips inside Saudi Arabia exceeding 47 million in 2018. The latest research from Colliers forecasts this figure to increase 8% per year to 70.5 million by 2023.

“Plans are already afoot in Saudi, to achieve the projected increase in domestic visitors, with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 blueprint forecast to double the number of UNESCO heritage sites and increase household spending on cultural and entertainment activities inside the country from 2.9% to 6%.

“Meanwhile, the Quality of Life Vision Realisation Programme (VRP) and the General Entertainment Authority are both working to create new attractions and recreational activities within the country,” added Curtis.

ATM, considered by industry professionals as a barometer for the Middle East and North Africa tourism sector, welcomed over 39,000 people to its 2018 event, showcasing the largest exhibition in the history of the show, with hotels comprising 20% of the floor area.

Brand new for this year’s show will be the launch of Arabian Travel Week, an umbrella brand comprising four co-located shows including ATM 2019, ILTM Arabia, CONNECT Middle East, India & Africa – a new route development forum and new consumer-led event ATM Holiday Shopper. Arabian Travel Week will take place at Dubai World Trade Centre from 27 April – 1 May 2019.

For more news about ATM, please visit: https://arabiantravelmarket.wtm.com/media-centre/Press-Releases/.

About Arabian Travel Market (ATM)

Arabian Travel Market is the leading, international travel and tourism event in the Middle East for inbound and outbound tourism professionals. ATM 2018 attracted almost 40,000 industry professionals, with representation from 141 countries over the four days. The 25th edition of ATM showcased over 2,500 exhibiting companies across 12 halls at Dubai World Trade Centre.  Arabian Travel Market 2019 will take place in Dubai from Sunday, 28th April to Wednesday, 1st May 2019. To find out more, please visit: www.arabiantravelmarket.wtm.com.

MEDIA CONTACT: NATHALIE VISELE, Director, Shamal Communications, Arjaan Office Tower, Dubai Media City, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Tel: +971 4 365 2711 | Mobile: +971 50 457 6525, E-mail: [email protected] , Website: www.shamalcomms.com

Travel News | eTurboNews

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