In an effort to elevate the standard of education and training in the tourism sector, Deputy Minister of Tourism Princess Haifa bint Mohammed has launched a comprehensive institutional accreditation initiative in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The initiative aims to boost the effectiveness of educational programs and align them more closely with the needs of the labor market. The Ministry of Tourism has partnered with organizations such as UN Tourism, the Education and Training Evaluation Commission, and the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation to assess the quality of 102 national tourism education and training programs by 2024.
Princess Haifa emphasized the importance of the initiative in ensuring the success of the ministry’s efforts. The ultimate goal is for tourism education and training institutions supported by the Ministry of Tourism to earn international and local accreditations as well as professional certificates. By 2024, the initiative aims to have 31 tourism education and training programs and institutions obtain national and international accreditations. Additionally, 200 trainers and educational and administrative staff are expected to acquire professional certificates to teach tourism programs developed in collaboration with the United Nations World Tourism Organization.
The initiative also seeks to ensure that 37 Ministry of Tourism employees acquire a professional certificate to manage tourism programs. By 2025, the goal is to have 27 tourism education and training programs and institutions obtain international and local accreditations. Princess Haifa highlighted the collaborative efforts with local and international partners to fulfill the objectives of the initiative. The initiative is expected to raise the competitiveness of the tourism labor market, enhance the Kingdom’s status as a premier global tourism destination, develop the skills of industry workers, and provide them with exceptional job opportunities.
In June 2024, the Ministry of Tourism launched the Tourism National Occupational Skills Standards under the ‘Ahluha’ initiative in both Arabic and English. This marked the first national effort to establish specialized professional standards to improve the quality of tourism education and training outcomes. The initiative aims to bridge the gap between supply and demand in the tourism sector, ultimately benefiting both the industry and job seekers. Princess Haifa’s commitment to boosting the quality of education and training in the tourism sector reflects the ministry’s dedication to ensuring the success and sustainability of Saudi Arabia’s tourism industry.
