AlUla Targets Doubling Hotel Room Supply for Year-Round Tourism
The Royal Commission for AlUla aims to double its hotel room supply to 2,000 in a push for year-round tourism.
Riyadh: AlUla has increased its aviation capacity to 30 weekly flights and is aiming to double its hotel room supply to 2,000, according to Phillip Jones, the Chief Tourism Officer at the Royal Commission for AlUla.
Speaking at the TOURISE conference in Riyadh, Jones highlighted the destination's growth, noting that visitor numbers have surged from 20,000 five years ago to 300,000 today.
The goal is to create a scalable and self-sustaining ecosystem that expands access while preserving heritage and landscapes.
Peak season runs from October to April, driven by festivals, special events, and concerts.
Seventy percent of AlUla's visitors come from Saudi Arabia and the GCC, with 30 percent international, primarily from the US, UK, China, India, France, Germany, and Italy.
Currently offering 1,000 hotel rooms, AlUla expects to reach approximately 1,300 next year and potentially 2,000 in the following year.
Jones emphasized the importance of outside investment that benefits the local economy, citing SR41 billion ($10.9 billion) worth of available investment opportunities over the next few years.
The growth of tourism necessitates a careful balance to preserve AlUla's heritage and culture.
Programs include efforts to reintroduce Arabian leopards, rewild areas, and plant 10 million trees to strengthen ecosystems.
A recent survey revealed that 71 percent of travelers seek wildlife and nature experiences, while 70 percent want cultural immersion and 64 percent prioritize arts and culture.
AlUla is focusing on investing in airlift, hotels, and experience design aligned with nature, heritage, and the arts.
There is a push to enhance food and beverage options and grow the wellness sector, alongside expanding arts and creative industries.
The opening of a SR1.2 billion state-of-the-art studio was also announced, with operations managed by Manhattan Beach Studios, which will produce films such as 'Chasing Red,' scheduled to begin shooting in December.
Jones outlined the strategy moving forward: to invest where traveler demand is strongest, deepen year-round programming, and grow jobs while safeguarding AlUla's heritage and landscapes.
Speaking at the TOURISE conference in Riyadh, Jones highlighted the destination's growth, noting that visitor numbers have surged from 20,000 five years ago to 300,000 today.
The goal is to create a scalable and self-sustaining ecosystem that expands access while preserving heritage and landscapes.
Peak season runs from October to April, driven by festivals, special events, and concerts.
Seventy percent of AlUla's visitors come from Saudi Arabia and the GCC, with 30 percent international, primarily from the US, UK, China, India, France, Germany, and Italy.
Currently offering 1,000 hotel rooms, AlUla expects to reach approximately 1,300 next year and potentially 2,000 in the following year.
Jones emphasized the importance of outside investment that benefits the local economy, citing SR41 billion ($10.9 billion) worth of available investment opportunities over the next few years.
The growth of tourism necessitates a careful balance to preserve AlUla's heritage and culture.
Programs include efforts to reintroduce Arabian leopards, rewild areas, and plant 10 million trees to strengthen ecosystems.
A recent survey revealed that 71 percent of travelers seek wildlife and nature experiences, while 70 percent want cultural immersion and 64 percent prioritize arts and culture.
AlUla is focusing on investing in airlift, hotels, and experience design aligned with nature, heritage, and the arts.
There is a push to enhance food and beverage options and grow the wellness sector, alongside expanding arts and creative industries.
The opening of a SR1.2 billion state-of-the-art studio was also announced, with operations managed by Manhattan Beach Studios, which will produce films such as 'Chasing Red,' scheduled to begin shooting in December.
Jones outlined the strategy moving forward: to invest where traveler demand is strongest, deepen year-round programming, and grow jobs while safeguarding AlUla's heritage and landscapes.
