The Private Sector’s Role in Saudi’s Travel Ambitions

Global awareness of Saudi Arabia has grown significantly due to high-profile events. But there are challenges to building a travel business in the country.

This bonus episode of the Skift Travel Podcast features a discussion with Muzzammil Ahussain, CEO of Almosafer, Saudi Arabia's largest travel and tourism company. Ahussain offered his thoughts on the evolution of the Saudi travel industry, the importance of Saudi travelers, and Almosafer's vision for the country's tourism development, among other topics, with Skift CEO Rafat Ali.

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Saudi Arabia's Emerging Global Travel Influence: Saudi travelers are high-spending and increasingly mobile, making them a valuable segment globally. The country is also a major inbound destination, especially for religious tourism.

Domestic Tourism Boom Post-Covid: COVID-19 was a catalyst for domestic tourism, shifting Saudis’ travel habits from primarily religious or family visits to leisure exploration of their own country.

Growth Priorities – Religious Tourism & Leisure Expansion: While consumer travel remains the core revenue driver, Almosafer sees major near-term growth in religious tourism due to improved infrastructure and accessibility. Leisure tourism is projected to see growth, especially with Saudi Arabia’s ongoing developments ahead of major events like Expo 2030 and the World Cup.

Evolving Global Perceptions of Saudi Arabia: Global awareness of Saudi Arabia has improved significantly due to high-profile events, sports, and cultural openness.

Talent Challenges and Investment in Human Capital: Retaining top local talent is a key challenge due to growing opportunities across the country. Significant national investment has been made in training and development, especially in tourism and hospitality.

Skift CEO Rafat Ali and Muzzammil Ahussain discussed Almosafer's role as a leading travel company in Saudi Arabia and its position as a key player in the greater region's tourism industry. Ahussain also shared information about his personal journey, including how his international education shaped his global outlook.

The Almosafer CEO provided details about the company's rapid growth, which was boosted by its significant investment in technology. Ahussain also addressed the challenges of building a travel business in Saudi Arabia due to the multitude of holidays on the country's calendar. And he touched on the sense of ambition that drives Saudi Arabia's development, especially as the country is poised for an inbound tourism surge.