RIYADH: Saudi Minister of Tourism and Chairman of the Saudi Tourism Authority Ahmed Al-Khateeb inaugurated the Kingdom’s participation in the World Travel Market in London with the “Saudi Land” pavilion.

The pavilion includes the Visit Saudi exhibition, organized by the Saudi Tourism Authority for the fourth consecutive year, supported by more than 70 partners in tourism, including destinations, hotels, airlines and travel companies.

Saudi Arabia’s presence at this global event highlights efforts to establish its status on the tourism map, showcasing rapid growth and record-breaking achievements in the sector.

The event promotes Saudi destinations, attracts diverse tourists, empowers the private sector and fosters strategic partnerships.

The Visit Saudi exhibition unveiled the Saudi Red Sea Destination, featuring Red Sea Global’s latest projects, aiming for 16 resorts this year and 50 by 2030.

The pavilion also offers interactive experiences showcasing Saudi hospitality, natural diversity, climate, culture, traditional attire, music and cuisine.

“Saudi Arabia, the fastest-growing tourist destination globally, seeks to solidify its leadership in world tourism, aligning with the Saudi Vision 2030 goals by highlighting unique destinations, new projects, and significant investment opportunities,“ Al-Khateeb said.

He added: Saudi Arabia is the largest global investor in the tourism sector.”

Saudi Tourism Authority CEO Fahd Hamidaddin said that Saudi Arabia was celebrating its tourism achievements and record-breaking growth at this leading international event.

The Kingdom aims to build on the success of the second phase of its global campaign, “This Land Is Calling,” targeting key markets, supporting partners and forging strategic partnerships with top global companies.

The Jeddah Historic District Program is participating in the market from Nov. 5 to 7 to promote Jeddah as an international tourism destination.

The program spotlights the heritage of the Jeddah Historic District, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, featuring historic architecture, mosques, markets, public spaces, museums, heritage restaurants and cultural landmarks.

The program offers authentic tourism experiences, including stays in restored heritage hotels, immersive historical tours and hands-on participation in local crafts.

The Hail Region Development Authority is participating to elevate Hail’s global tourism profile, promote its destinations, and empower partners to build strategic partnerships.

The Soudah Development Co. is showcasing its flagship project, “Soudah Peaks,” a luxury mountain destination on the Kingdom’s highest peak at 3,015 meters above sea level.

The Saudi delegation also includes representatives from key entities such as Tourism Development Fund, ASFAR, Cruise Saudi, Saudia airline, Riyadh Air, Red Sea Global, Diriyah Co., the Royal Commission for AlUla and NEOM.

At the market, Diriyah Co. signed strategic agreements with luxury operator Abercrombie & Kent and leading Saudi travel platform Almosafer. These collaborations aim to create high-end travel experiences that position Diriyah as a premier destination and a cornerstone of Saudi Arabia’s rapidly growing tourism landscape.

RIYADH: British Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Neil Crompton highlighted the growth he has witnessed in Saudi-UK ties, which has expanded from traditional defense partnerships to encompass numerous sectors such as tourism, people-to-people relations, and sport, in a speech he gave during a cultural soiree marking the launch of “Anecdotes of an Arab Anglophile” in Riyadh on Monday.

“In the modern era, since Vision 2030, our relationship has gone from a quite traditional defense, security, contracting relationship, to take-off,” Crompton said.

The ambassador cited the growth of people-to-people relations between the two countries, mentioning British rowers and cricket players, such as Kevin Pietersen, visiting the Kingdom, and many Saudis traveling to London for holidays.

“I think the affection between the two countries is amazing,” Crompton said. “With the visa system ... since we introduced the visa waiver system in June 2022, over 500,000 Saudis have used it to go to London, in addition to the 100,000 who already had a 10-year visa or another passport.”

The cultural soiree hosted by the UK Embassy celebrated the launch of “Anecdotes of an Arab Anglophile” in Saudi Arabia by Saudi author and Editor-in-Chief of Arab News Faisal J. Abbas.

In a panel discussion between the ambassador and the author, the two highlighted the similarities that bridge the two kingdoms in an event titled “The Tale of Two Kingdoms.”

During his remarks, Abbas said: “There is much more that unites us than what divides us.”

Abbas said that the event might appear to be merely a discussion about a book, but that it is much more than that. “It’s a tale of two kingdoms,” two kingdoms that, he said, have much in common.

“Yes, we are two kingdoms separated by thousands and thousands of miles, we have a different history, but at the same time we are united by trivial things, from a sense of humor to very deeply rooted multifaceted bilateral relations that range from culture to business to defense and many more,” Abbas said.

The cultural soiree was attended by influential figures from the UK and Saudi Arabia, including the chairman of the Saudi Arabian Cricket Federation, Prince Saud bin Mishal, as well as prominent diplomats, journalists, academics and British citizens living in the Kingdom.

Speaking to Arab News, the publisher of the book and managing director of Nomad Publishing, Max Scott, noted the growing interest in Arab perspectives in the West, which are presented in “Anecdotes of an Arab Anglophile.”

Scott said that the panel discussion between Crompton and Abbas was engaging because of the pivotal questions Abbas presented.

“It was very interesting because Faisal asks some difficult questions about where Britain is at the moment. And he’s not shy of saying, you know, it’s a difficult time, and that’s good to see,” Scott said.

“At the end of the day, I think everyone came away with something positive,” he added.

Abbas’s book was originally released in London last June,, The cultural soiree hosted by the UK ambassador celebrated its recent release in Saudi Arabia, with its debut at the Riyadh International Book Fair.

The book is available throughout the Kingdom, exclusively at Jarir Bookstore outlets.