Arab News, Wednesday, May 03, 2023 | Shawwal 13, 1444
Saudi Tourism Authority signs MoU with Visa to develop region’s first tourism data lab
Saudi Arabia: A first-of-its-kind
tourism data lab is set for the Middle East after Saudi Arabia reached an
agreement with global digital payment solution provider Visa to travel trends
insights.
Saudi Tourism Authority has signed a memorandum of
understanding with the financial services company to explore innovative ways to
enhance the visitor experience and advance the Kingdom’s hospitality industry.
The partnership will be supported by the payment
database VisaNet, which delivers a variety of data on incoming tourists and
substantial information on how governments can maximize their cashless approach,
the press release added.
The collaboration is in line with Saudi Arabia’s
National Tourism Strategy, which seeks to attract 100 million visitors by 2030.
Abdulkarim Aldarwish, president of Middle East and
Africa markets at STA, said: “The agreement with Visa, the world leader in
digital payments, confirms that the Saudi Tourism Authority is keen to enhance
its capabilities by providing, exchanging, and analyzing data as well as
offering products and promotional package programs that improve the experience
of tourists and attract more segments from the main markets in the region.”
The MoU, signed at the Arabian Travel Market 2023
being held in Dubai, will also look into options to deploy Visa’s digital
payments solutions and exclusive packages, according to a press release.
“Saudi Arabia is fast emerging as a tourism hub
with diverse and enriching experiences awaiting visitors. The industry is also a
pivotal pillar in achieving the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 to diversify the
economy and create new job opportunities,” said Walter Lironi, senior vice
president for Visa consulting and analytics for the central Europe, Middle East,
and Africa region.
He added that the company is pleased to enter this
partnership with STA as it will allow them to “explore multiple pathways ...
(to) enhance the tourism experience of visitors to Saudi Arabia and support the
government’s tourism ambition.”
One of the fastest-growing destinations in the
region, Saudi Arabia has been investing substantial sums to upgrade the
country’s tourism infrastructure while launching new projects to attract
travelers from across the world.
During a monthly meeting with citizens in
February, the Minister of Tourism Ahmed bin Aqil Al-Khatib revealed that Saudi
Arabia’s tourism spending surged 93 percent in 2022 to hit SR185 billion ($50
billion), up from SR95.6 billion the year before.