RIYADH: The visitor count to one of Saudi Arabia’s most treasured tourist spots AlUla exceeded expectations in 2023, according to its chief tourism officer.
This involved a greater share of international tourists than anticipated, in a sign that the project is gathering momentum.
Speaking to Arab News at the Saudi Tourism Forum in Riyadh, Phillip Jones admitted that the Royal Commission for AlUla has been surprised by how quickly the global tourism industry has embraced the project.
AlUla is home to historical and archaeological sites that trace more than 200,000 years of human history, and has been dubbed “the world’s largest cultural oasis” by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Reflecting on the success of attracting tourists to the site, Jones said: “We thought it would take us more than 10 years to get to a split of 40 percent international and 60 percent domestic and regional (tourists). This year we’re 35 percent international and 65 percent domestic and…