On Tuesday 22 January 2019, Asharqia Chamber organized expanded meeting of the Events, Exhibitions, Accommodation and Tour Operators Sector, as a part of the activities and programs of the Hospitality and Entertainment Committee of the Chamber in 2019.
During the meeting, the Deputy Chairman of Asharqia Chamber and Chairman of the Hospitality and Entertainment Committee, Hamad bin Mohammed Al-Boali, said that the Vision was aimed at maximizing the roles and position of all sectors and that the Sector of Events, Exhibitions, Accommodation and Tour Operators play an important role in achieving the desired economic diversification, as it generates revenues and contributes to the provision of employment opportunities for citizens and stimulate infrastructure and service development.
Al-Boali said that the Kingdom has achieved significant growth in terms of entertainment activities as indicated by the latest official statistics that the number of recreational activities in 2017 were nearly 2045 effectiveness, the size of the arrival of 6 million people.
The Eastern region came in third place with 103 events after Riyadh and Makkah with a presence of more than two million and a quarter million, which indicates that the entertainment sector in all its fields are moving towards greater growth with new economic trends.
Points of strength and weakness
Al-Boali said that this meeting is to identify the reality and future of the events, exhibitions, accommodation and tour operators' sector in the Eastern Province in terms of identifying its strengths and weaknesses, to discuss what the companies and institutions operating therein have the potential, activities and programs that qualify them to enter the market of tourism competition in the region, and to identify the best ways to deal with the growth witnessed by the region in that sector and the signs of greater expansion during the year and the coming years.
He explained that the meeting is the beginning of an open dialogue on all topics that concern the pioneers of the sector in the region, both as regards the share of local companies and institutions in the tourism market in general, especially in the region, and the possibility of maximizing their roles in major projects currently being implemented by the Kingdom or related to the obstacles facing the sector, whether financial, organizational or employment, and then develop appropriate solutions to them and submit them to the competent authorities.
Increase the market share of the Eastern Region
The chamber's board member, Alanoud Al-Ramah, said that the Hospitality and Entertainment Committee in the Chamber is working on a series of workshops and programs to serve the pioneers of the sector, and that the Committee has continued with the competent authorities to increase the market share of the Eastern Region of exhibitions and events.
She asserted that the Eastern Region has all the ingredients to be in the top areas of the Kingdom in this sector, especially its geographical location where it is close to all the Gulf States.
She called on the pioneers of the sector to work on the launch of festivals and influential events and mutual cooperation because of the positive results in overcoming obstacles and achieve success.
Consolidation of Licenses
The leaders of the sector of the participants in the meeting stressed the support of government agencies to the sector and push it to be an important figure in the field of national economy.
They also discussed the challenges faced by them in terms of the multiplicity of licensing authorities in the establishment of events and exhibitions or the creation of licenses for each individual activity.
They called for the unification of licensing authorities and that the licenses of the institution valid for all effectiveness.
They also called for the importance of the existence of specific venues for the establishment of exhibitions and events and the provision of training courses on how to start exhibitions and events and the organizational steps involved.
They requested to create a unique e-platform for industry leaders in the Eastern Region, thereby expanding the scope of participation and offering solutions simultaneously
