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The Role of Exhibitions and Conferences in Economic Development
In a rapidly advancing world, exhibitions and conferences emerge as key tools for economic development by attracting foreign investments. They serve as a unique platform for investors to discover promising opportunities in the Kingdom and build strategic partnerships with local companies, highlighting the modern investment environment and major projects.
Achieving Saudi Vision 2030 Through the Exhibition and Conference Sector
With the comprehensive transformations and reforms the Kingdom is witnessing, an important question arises: Can the Kingdom’s interaction with the exhibition and conference sector be a vital cornerstone for achieving Saudi Vision 2030? Can this sector play a pivotal role in making the Kingdom a dynamic hub on the global stage?
The Importance of Exhibitions and Conferences in Enhancing Development
Today’s discussion addresses the importance of the exhibition and conference sector as one of the most important tools in enhancing economic, cultural, and technological development. This sector is a platform for exchanging ideas and showcasing innovations, and a major attraction for investments. It effectively contributes to promoting tourist destinations and Saudi culture, providing participants and visitors the opportunity to explore the Kingdom’s rich cultural heritage and environmental and civilizational diversity. It is an integral part of the national plan to diversify income sources by attracting visitors from around the world.
Saudi Achievements in Tourism for 2023
Saudi Arabia achieved over 100 million tourists in 2023, an increase of 56% compared to 2019, including 27.4 million tourists from abroad, surpassing the Vision 2030 target. This achievement reflects ongoing efforts in tourism development and enhances the tourism sector as a major driver for economic development and growth.
The private sector also signed contracts to create 75,000 hotel rooms, bringing the total number of available hotel rooms to 280,000, with the number expected to double to 550,000 rooms by 2030.
Hosting Major Events in the Kingdom
Thanks to these achievements, the Kingdom has hosted a series of major events and exhibitions such as the Club World Cup, Cityscape Exhibition, and LEAP Exhibition, enhancing its status as a global tourist, cultural, and economic destination. Saudi Arabia is set to host prominent sports events in the coming years, such as the 2034 FIFA World Cup and the 2024 Esports World Cup, along with the annual Formula 1 race and the Saudi Cup for Equestrian.
Economically, Riyadh continues to host the Future Investment Initiative (Davos in the Desert) and global economic summits. Culturally, the events include the Winter at Tantora Festival, the development of historic Jeddah, and Riyadh Season, which offers various entertainment and cultural shows. Additionally, winning the bid to host Expo Riyadh 2030, the world’s largest exhibition, underscores the Kingdom’s ability and status as a regional and international center for organizing major and specialized events.
Massive Projects for Developing Exhibition and Conference Centers
The large-scale projects to develop exhibition and conference centers in the Kingdom reflect this direction and commitment to achieving Saudi Vision 2030. These projects not only enhance the country’s capacity to host major international events but also contribute to infrastructure development, benefiting the economy and local society.
Learn About Amkenah’s Participation in LEAP Exhibition
SAFCSP – LEAP 2024
Beem App – LEAP 2024
The Importance of Exhibitions and Conferences in Enhancing Cultural Activity
It is clear that exhibitions and conferences form a vital foundation for further development in this sector and enhance cultural activity by turning the Kingdom into a global destination for events. This opens doors to investments and strengthens communication with other countries and their communities.
The Role of Exhibitions and Conferences in Achieving Ambitious Goals
We conclude that continued positive interaction with this sector will significantly contribute to achieving the ambitious goals associated with Saudi Vision 2030. Thus, the Kingdom will strengthen its advanced position on the global stage as a dynamic center for business and culture.
