Saudi Arabia has raised tourism wage support from 30 percent to 50 percent. This move aims to create more jobs for Saudi citizens and grow the economy.
To start, the Ministry of Tourism announced this wage boost as part of the Employment Support Program. Working closely with other government agencies, the program now includes 43 roles in the tourism sector.
These roles include hotel workers, tour operators, and travel agency managers. This wide range allows Saudi job seekers to explore new career paths in tourism.
In addition, the program supports the Ahlaha initiative. This initiative focuses on training Saudi citizens and helping them enter tourism careers. The updated tourism wage support also makes jobs in the sector more attractive to locals.
Furthermore, the support encourages private companies to hire more Saudi workers. This shift plays a major part in reducing the nation’s dependence on foreign labor.
This new step aligns with Vision 2030, which aims to create 1.6 million tourism jobs. It also strengthens the national workforce and supports economic diversification.
Recent data shows tourism jobs grew by 4 percent compared to last year. Still, Saudis only make up 25 percent of the tourism workforce, with the rest being expatriates.
That’s why increasing tourism wage support now is so important. It gives local workers a better chance to find stable jobs in the sector.
Currently, Riyadh and Makkah lead the country in tourism employment. Even so, the government wants to increase job numbers in all regions.
Additionally, a new policy will soon reserve 41 top tourism roles for Saudi citizens. These include hotel directors, travel agency heads, and senior managers.
Overall, tourism plays a vital role in the Kingdom’s economic future. Saudi Arabia has increased wage support for tourism workers from 30% to 50%. With higher tourism wage support, more citizens can now benefit from opportunities in a fast-growing industry.
