New projects to boost Saudi tourism

Saudi Arabia is on the verge of a massive tourism expansion in the coming days due to the establishment of a new airport in Jeddah, and the various mega infrastructure projects under way, said Leonardo F.M. Baiocchi, general manager of Four Seasons Hotel in Istanbul. “However, services provided in the Kingdom's hospitality sector have to be improved if it has to be on par with its counterparts the world over,” Baiocchi told Diana Al-Jassem of Arab News in an exclusive interview in Jeddah. According to Baiocchi, the unstable political situation in some parts of the region might impact the tourism industry. “Tourism can have a sustained growth and flourish in a peaceful and economic environment. Turkey and some other countries are benefiting from the current politically uncertain situations in the MENA,” he added.