Marcel Stephan’s Post

Egypt V Saudi Hospitality It is that differences between the beginning and the type of tourism , the way of planning and strategies, where it ended and how. Hospitality industry started very early in the Saudi history as the sacred land of Allah and the place of Al Kaaba Al Mosharafa to host the pilgrimage since the very beginning of the human Arab land history. Saudi built that type of religious hospitality and has been founded as center of the Middle East tradings. Egypt history founded since thousand of years and shaped many factors and reasons to attract the foreigners to visit the land and enjoy the culture tourism and different monuments were built through thousand of years with different civilizations. Saudi Arabia kept the same type of religious tourism till the nearest history but Egypt started different types of tourism as culture, educational and recreational tourism. Recently Egypt kept the same style, same way of marketing and same attraction with no new ideas or USP, but in the same time Saudi Arabia created many different types of tourism and drive all the attractions to lead the hospitality sector to a very far point. Now Egypt stands on a very solid ground in the hospitality industry with thousands or educated, trained and experienced talented leaders after long time of practices and development. Saudi started as big as the huge projects they started recently but with very high speed. Still the main factor can put the Saudi hospitality is very different place is the manpower and to prepare a generation to lead this near future as far as expected from vision2030. Egypt has to attract different segments and different markets in the time that Saudi Arabia makes everything possible to lead the area in this industry. Ayman Fawzy #hospitality #hotels #ksa_hospitality #hospitality_industry

Incase you missed it 🎙️ Our Board Member, AbdulRahman Al Bassam, joined #TheMajilis and discussed the story of Baheej- بهيج, its alignment with Saudi Vision 2030, and the future of Saudi Arabia's tourism sector. With a vision to welcome 150 million visitors by 2030, AbdulRahman discussed how internal and international tourism will play a key role in transforming the Kingdom For the full interview check the link below: https://lnkd.in/dqa9hbGs

Makkah Route Initiative: Streamlining Pilgrimage for Millions of Visitors 🚶♂️ The Makkah Route Initiative is a groundbreaking program aimed at making the pilgrimage experience smoother and more efficient for millions of international visitors who come to Saudi Arabia for Hajj and Umrah. The initiative, launched as part of Vision 2030, offers a seamless travel experience by streamlining visa processes, customs procedures, and baggage handling before pilgrims even arrive in Saudi Arabia. With pre-clearance facilities established in several countries, pilgrims can complete all necessary documentation at their point of departure, making their arrival in Saudi Arabia quick and stress-free. This program is part of the Kingdom’s broader efforts to modernize the Hajj and Umrah experience through technology and improve the overall capacity to accommodate larger numbers of pilgrims. By integrating smart technologies, like AI-driven crowd management systems and real-time tracking for transportation and accommodations, the Makkah Route Initiative demonstrates how Saudi Arabia is leveraging innovation to enhance religious tourism, a cornerstone of the Kingdom’s economy. #MakkahRoute #Hajj #Umrah #ReligiousTourism #Vision2030 #SaudiAtHeart #TravelTech

Makkah Route Initiative: Streamlining Pilgrimage for Millions of Visitors 🚶♂️ The Makkah Route Initiative is a groundbreaking program aimed at making the pilgrimage experience smoother and more efficient for millions of international visitors who come to Saudi Arabia for Hajj and Umrah. The initiative, launched as part of Vision 2030, offers a seamless travel experience by streamlining visa processes, customs procedures, and baggage handling before pilgrims even arrive in Saudi Arabia. With pre-clearance facilities established in several countries, pilgrims can complete all necessary documentation at their point of departure, making their arrival in Saudi Arabia quick and stress-free. This program is part of the Kingdom’s broader efforts to modernize the Hajj and Umrah experience through technology and improve the overall capacity to accommodate larger numbers of pilgrims. By integrating smart technologies, like AI-driven crowd management systems and real-time tracking for transportation and accommodations, the Makkah Route Initiative demonstrates how Saudi Arabia is leveraging innovation to enhance religious tourism, a cornerstone of the Kingdom’s economy. #MakkahRoute #Hajj #Umrah #ReligiousTourism #Vision2030 #SaudiAtHeart #TravelTech

How will the intercession of our Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) be on the Day of Resurrection? There are several intercessions specialized for him, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, his intercession is to separate the judgement between the creatures, his intercession for a sect of his nation to enter Paradise without account or punishment, his intercede for a nation of his nation so that they may enter Hell before they enter Paradise while they deserve it, his interceding for a sect of the people of Paradise to raise their rank in it, and his intercession for all of those The fire entered his nation to get out of it. His intercession, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, is his cringing, praising, and supplications in the hands of his Lord, the Almighty, and then he asks and asks him, and Allah gives him until He is satisfied. Send blessings upon the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him ♥️ Madinah has secured its place as a leading global tourism hub, ranking first among Saudi cities, fifth in the Gulf region, sixth in the Arab world, and seventh in the Middle East. Globally, the city achieved an impressive 88th position, demonstrating its growing prominence in the international tourism landscape. This ranking is based on six key pillars: economic performance, tourism infrastructure, health and safety, sustainability, tourism policies, and appeal. It reflects Madinah’s dedication to improving visitor experiences and promoting sustainable tourism in line with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 goals. The recognition highlights ongoing efforts to enhance tourism offerings and attract global visitors. #Madinah #Tourism #GlobalTourism #SaudiArabia #Vision2030 #SustainableTourism #MadinahDevelopment #TourismRanking #GulfTourism #MiddleEast #Travel #TourismInfrastructure

𝐀𝐥𝐔𝐥𝐚 𝐄𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐬 𝐓𝐨𝐩 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐬: 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐌𝐢𝐝𝐝𝐥𝐞 𝐄𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐔𝐒 𝐎𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. Saudi Arabia's AlUla has become the first Middle Eastern destination to be accredited by Destinations International, a US-based organization, solidifying its position as a top tourist destination. #AlUla #FirstMENA #DestinationsInternational #TourismDestination #SaudiArabia #ArabNews #ArabTimes #ArabTimesNews

Check out this short film focusing on one of my favorite areas in #yanbu, the Al Nakhal area, with its ancient villlages and towering mountains.

I hear about this topic all the time, but is #Saudi really 'China-ready'? I don't think so, and I'll tell you why 👇 Yes, KSA's "China-ready" push has been full force, especially with developments like Chinese language education, #Mandarin signage, and better payment systems. But to truly capture the #ChineseMarket, much more attention needs to be placed on logistics, tourist experiences, and authentic Saudi culture... Chinese tourist itineraries currently focus on several locations—2 days in Jeddah, 2 in AlUla, 1 in Riyadh—but feel more like transit itineraries than immersive cultural experiences (just take a look at user itineraries on #LittleRedBook) Currently tourists also rely heavily on taxis or #Uber due to the lack of public transport infrastructure. To elevate the visitor experience, improved logistics are essential—Chinese travelers want seamless movement between attractions, not just region-hopping. Saudi has the potential to become a hub for #gastronomytourism, offering unique flavors and a rich culinary history, yet this remains largely untapped. So I'm wondering... Beyond the luxurious resorts and desert landscapes, what is that one iconic Saudi item tourists will take back home? What will be the signature Saudi dish or experience that Chinese tourists seek out..? To be truly "China-ready" #KSA needs to cultivate an identity that resonates with Chinese travelers on every level—from logistics and gastronomy to meaningful cultural experiences. https://lnkd.in/dHgCpmMe #SaudiVision2030 #ChinaReady #TourismInnovation #SaudiArabia #China #ChinaTourism

🕌 **Religious Tourism: When Faith Meets Numbers** In 2023, Saudi Arabia welcomed over 1.8 million pilgrims for Hajj, marking a return to pre-pandemic levels after years of restrictions. For 2024, the Kingdom plans to host nearly 3 million pilgrims, reflecting the sustained growth of religious tourism. As for Umrah, the number of visitors reached 13.55 million during Ramadan 2023, a figure that highlights the strategic importance of this sector to the Saudi economy. 🌍 **But how can such an influx of visitors be managed while preserving the sacredness of these sites?** Data analysis and technological innovation play a key role here, enabling better understanding of pilgrims' needs, predicting peak times, and adjusting resources accordingly. As a consultant in luxury hotel communication strategy and international tourism data analyst, I believe the future of religious tourism lies in balancing tradition with modernity. 💬 **What role do you think technology should play in managing pilgrim flows?** Share your thoughts in the comments! #ReligiousTourism #SaudiArabia #TourismInnovation #latifazenaina