Ministry of Tourism to Invest USD 100M Annually in Local Job Training

The Ministry of Tourism announced a new initiative to strengthen the local workforce in the country’s growing tourism sector. The government will allocate USD 100 million each year to train 100,000 young Saudis, both men and women, to work in a range of roles within the tourism industry.

The plan is part of the Kingdom's ongoing push to localise employment across multiple industries, with a focus on tourism management, hotel operations and travel companies. Several hotels in the Kingdom have already achieved a 50% rate of Saudi employees, with many businesses expressing a need for further training to empower Saudi workers in tourism roles.

In addition to workforce training, the ministry highlighted the importance of localising capital expenditure within the tourism sector. The government intends to ensure that projects and initiatives related to tourism development - such as the design, construction and materials used - are driven by Saudi companies.

NEOM, Qiddiya, Diriyah and the Red Sea resorts are expected to bring an estimated USD 500 billion in investments over the next 15 years. The Red Sea resorts, which are already operational, have achieved a 50% Saudi workforce rate.