Saudi Arabia sees quick tourism rebound after domestic boom

Saudi Arabia sees quick tourism rebound after domestic boom

BloombergSaudi Arabia is preparing for a quick rebound in tourism and hasn't revised its visitor targets for 2021 despite the coronavirus pandemic, Tourism Minister Ahmed Al-Khateeb said. “If countries today open their borders, we will be fit to run fast, and this is the plan,” said Al-Khateeb, a key adviser to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. “We believe people want to travel and they will continue to travel, but we need countries to coordinate their actions.” The pandemic forced Saudi Arabia to shut its borders in March, thwarting the government's ambitions to expand its travel industry six months after allowing vacationers to visit the country for the first time. While the number of international visitors slumped, a boom in domestic tourism surpassed official projections and helped offset that decline, he