Saudi launches tourism education...

Scheme designed to enhance sector’s efficiency

Saudi Arabia is looking to enhance the quality of its tourism education by evaluating the quality of 102 national tourism education and training programmes.

According to Saudi’s Vice-Minister of Tourism, Princess Haifa Mohammed Al Saud, the initiative will also improve local job prospects.

The assessment will be conducted in partnership with three organisations to measure the quality of the tourism programmes, including UN Tourism, the Education and Training Evaluation Commission and the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation.

The programme aims to accomplish various short- and long-term objectives, which include:

31 tourism education and training programmes and institutions receiving national and international accreditation by 2024
200 trainers and educational and administrative staff earning professional certificates to deliver new tourism programmes developed by the Ministry in collaboration with the United Nations World Tourism Organisation for the year 2024
37 Ministry of Tourism employees will obtain professional certification to manage tourism programmes
By 2025, the initiative will target 27 tourism education and training programmes and institutions to achieve both international and local accreditations

This initiative marks the first national effort to establish specialised professional standards aimed at enhancing the quality of tourism education and training outcomes and bridging the gap between supply and demand.

“We are collaborating closely with our local and international partners to fulfil the objectives of this promising initiative,” said Princess Al Saud.

“This effort will elevate the competitiveness of the tourism labour market, enhance the kingdom's status as a premier global tourism destination, develop the skills of industry workers, and present them with exceptional job opportunities.”

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