This article was first published by the University of Jeddah
Domestic tourism significantly contributes to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, focusing on three fundamental factors: economy, society, and environment. Economically, domestic tourism is an excellent job creator, reducing unemployment rates and poverty levels, supporting the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal No. 1. According to reports from the World Travel & Tourism Council, the tourism industry globally provided one out of every five new jobs before the pandemic.
The World Tourism Organization's report indicates that tourism in Saudi Arabia created over 820,000 jobs in 2021, contributing continuously to the gross domestic product. Furthermore, domestic tourism helps achieve economic balance across different regions within a country. Encouraging domestic tourism reduces the negative impacts of international tourism seasonality, develops human resources in the industry, creates leaders capable of facing challenges, and adds more to the development of various and renewable tourism sectors.
Socially, local tourism fosters social solidarity and community unity, encourages adherence to prevailing values, creating a sense of patriotism and belonging. It enhances the citizen's appreciation for both tangible and intangible national heritage, contributing to environmental protection and preserving local cultures. Citizens are more likely to protect nature, culture, and attractions in their countries, considering them national treasures, compared to foreign tourists.
Environmentally, the diversity of local tourism experiences serves as a good alternative to traveling thousands of miles for experiences that can be entirely replicated, reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions. To achieve balance in sustainable tourism, environmental conservation must be implemented at all levels, from regulations and penalties to monitoring systems and behavior rules. Incorporating environmental protection and national wealth values into community awareness, educational curricula, and encouraging students and families to adopt sustainable behaviors and responsible practices are crucial.
In my opinion, Saudi Arabia has achieved this through professional work, astonishing diversity, and sustainable plans. We now welcome the world to enjoy our rich heritage and enchanting nature, which spans a larger area than many countries relying on tourism as a primary income source. Our real tourism resource is the collection of our coasts, plains, hills, deserts, highlands, enriching experiences, historical sites, sacred places, customs, values, cultural diversity, security, stability, hospitality, and generosity, offering the most on earth. These values, gains, and divine gifts are the fundamental pillars of our distinction in the tourism sector, specifically. They are the superior competitive advantages that no one on this planet can replicate as long as we continue to preserve them, ensuring future generations will witness and develop them.
Achieving this requires long-term strategies for sustainable tourism, continuous improvement not only of our tangible heritage and attractions but also of community awareness and tourist behavior, positively influencing them to be more responsible towards their national wealth and heritage.
Additionally, the continuous development of human capabilities encourages broader industry growth, advancing to achieve the goals of Vision 2030 and beyond, with a focus on humans and nature. It's worth mentioning the efforts aimed at human capacity development, whether through various scholarship programs, the Ministry of Tourism's educational initiatives, or tourism and hospitality colleges, departments, programs, and curricula in Saudi universities.
By: Abdulrahman Kamal