Saudi Arabia and Swiss Tourism partner up to boost the tourism industry.

• Saudi Arabia and Swiss Tourism signed a partnership to boost both tourism sectors in their respective countries.
• Both countries are seeing increases in their 2-way tourism with Saudi Arabia making up 40% of overnight stays in the GCC and the number of Swiss visits to Saudi Arabia increased by 84% last year.
• The partnership will open up new opportunities between both countries for future business deals.

The Saudi Tourism Authority (STA) has signed an MoU with Switzerland Tourism to bolster collaboration in the tourism sector.

According to SPA, a first-of-its-kind Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between the tourism entities of Saudi Arabia and Switzerland. The objective of this agreement is to promote the development of the tourism industry, facilitate mutual promotion, and enable collaborative tourism projects between the two countries.

This agreement sets a new precedent for international tourism cooperation.
The report emphasizes that particular tourism sectors like marine activities, culture and heritage, and rural tourism will receive special attention. This will be done through combined marketing efforts to attract travelers who are seeking unique experiences.

This will be achieved through amplified cooperation between local tourism agencies and operators, providing opportunities for further partnerships and value between Saudi Arabia and Switzerland.

The strategic promotion aims to showcase KSA and Switzerland as leading destinations for tourism that cater to every tourist.
Additionally, Switzerland Tourism and STA will collaborate to leverage alternative technology in the industry and provide visitors with a more seamless travel experience.

Livio Goetz, lead of management of gulf countries in ST said “Saudi Arabia holds great importance as a key market for ST, being the largest market within the GCC. Notably, 40% of all overnight stays in the GCC are generated from Saudi Arabia”.

“Last year, the number of visits from Switzerland to Saudi Arabia increased by 84%. This new agreement will build on that progress with increased collaboration that unlocks valuable growth opportunities for both countries,” he noted.