Investment opportunities and growth prospects within Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector are the focus at an ongoing forum on travel and tourism investment market in Riyadh.

The third Saudi Travel and Tourism Investment Market 2010, which opened on March 28 at the Riyadh International Exhibition Centre, will end on April 1.

The forum will also review recruitment and training strategies being adopted by the local tourism and hospitality industries and their compliance with international standards.

The event will serve as a comprehensive platform for reinforcing communication among key local, Arab and international tourism businesses and organisations. It will share knowledge and best practices for developing the tourism sector and maximising its role in achieving sustainable growth and supporting the national economy.

Themed ‘Tourism and provision of job opportunities’, the forum will highlight job opportunities in the tourism sector, one of the major sectors of economic growth in Saudi Arabia.

“The forum is a very important initiative for supporting the Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector, which has been growing steadily over the past few years,” said Ziad Bin Mahfouz, CEO, Elaf Group of companies for travel, tourism and hotels, which plans to launch new high-quality service and product packages.

“During the event we will ensure that we adequately highlight available tourism opportunities in Saudi Arabia along with the rich cultural heritage which has been a key element in developing the industry,” he added.

“We will also share ideas and experiences with major regional and international businesses and organisations that focus on special tourism programs and Hajj and Umrah services.”

The Group is expanding its portfolio to include four new hotels by 2012, Bin Mahfouz said.

“We will also continue to support government efforts to boost the contribution of tourism to the national GDP to 11 per cent in the coming years and help in building a diverse and stable economy that offers jobs to Saudi nationals in various sectors,” he concluded.

The event will also include a series of workshops, seminars, and panel discussions covering industry challenges, financing tools, and strategies for launching new investment projects that tap the natural and economic resources of Saudi Arabia. – TradeArabia News Service