Making the desert green – Saudi Arabia’s quest to develop a sustainable tourism sector

As we build tourism from the ground up, we are embedding sustainability in everything we do 

In September 2019, Saudi Arabia opened its doors to the world with the launch of our international e-visa. As a result, the Kingdom is a latecomer when it comes to international tourism. Yet, as we build our tourism sector from the ground up, we are creating an ecosystem that is sustainable by design.

 In 1950, 25 million people traveled internationally. By 2019, this number had reached nearly 1.5 billion – an increase of more than five thousand percent. This increase was fueled by a growing middle class, more affordable travel, and increased leisure time. Unfortunately, it has seen some destinations become the victims of their own success.

 From cities in Europe to beaches in Asia and heritage sites in Latin America, authorities have capped visitor numbers to protect the environment and relieve pressure on locals.

 But being new to the game, Saudi Arabia has been able to learn from others, to avoid the pitfalls others have fallen into. And we are creating a tourism ecosystem that is sustainable by design.

 Key initiatives and projects are setting new standards for sustainability

 Vision 2030 is Saudi Arabia’s plan for national transformation. It aims to create a vibrant society, a thriving economy, and an ambitious nation. It also focuses on achieving environmental sustainability. 

As tourism moves into a new era following the global pandemic, Saudi Arabia is setting new standards for sustainability. These will not only guide our approach to tourism development, but we hope others will follow our example.

 The Saudi Green Initiative and the Middle East Green Initiative are part of this plan. They will put the Kingdom at the middle of regional efforts to meet international environment targets. And they will reduce carbon emissions, combat pollution, and preserve marine life. Over the coming decades, we will plant 10 billion trees across the Kingdom.

 The Riyadh Green project will increase our capital city’s share of green space from 1.7 square meters to 28 square meters. It will improve air quality, reduce temperatures, and encourage healthy lifestyles. And we are planting 7.5 million trees across cities and striving to water all green projects with recycled water.

 Our gigaprojects focus on sustainability to create ‘smart destinations’. They leverage Saudi Arabia’s greatest strengths, including vision, imagination, and ambition. And they will create new blueprints for sustainability and livability. Our hope is that others will replicate this.

 The Red Sea Project is investing in innovative policies and technology that put the environment first. 75% of islands along the coastline will remain untouched with special conservation zones. A smart destination management system will track the environmental impact of all operations to avoid overtourism. There will be zero waste to landfill and a ban on single use plastics. The Red Sea Project will be the largest destination in the world powered by clean energy.

 Sharing our expertise with others will create a sustainable tourism sector globally

Vision 2030 is also about connecting Saudi Arabia with the rest of the world. We realize that building a sustainable tourism sector at home has little value if it does not support global sustainability efforts.

 So, Saudi Arabia is playing a role in shaping common solutions to global challenges. And we are aiming to lead by example and to share best practices with the international community.

 The Saudi Wildlife Authority has partnered with the International Union for Conservation of Nature to share knowledge on biodiversity protection. Saudi Arabia is home to some of the world’s most intact and resilient coral reefs. We will conduct studies of these marine ecosystems to share insights with the world.

 Saudi Arabia is at the beginning of its tourism journey. We have had the benefit of learning from others to ensure that we are embedding sustainability in everything we do. And as we open to the world, we commit to sharing the lessons we learn to create a sustainable tourism sector worldwide.