Maritime and Inland Tourism Strategic Development Plan in the Asir Region Revealed by University
His Excellency, the Rector of King Khalid University, Dr. Faleh bin Rajaa Allah Al-Solamy, the development plan superintendent of the provinces and centers of the coast and tourist centers in the Asir region, announced the completion of the comprehensive strategic plan for these sites.
The plan came as a response to the directives of His Royal Highness Prince Faisal bin Khalid bin Abdulaziz. Al-Solamy stressed that the plan came within the framework of the university's efforts to serve the region and our dear homeland as it is precisely aligned with Vision 2030. He further related that the strategic plan is part and parcel to the comprehensive development plan for the Asir Region, which is supervised and sponsored by His Royal Highness the Governor of the Asir Region and after the directives of both His Royal Majesty King Salman bin Abdulaziz and the Crown Prince His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, may God preserve them.
Rector Al-Solamy pointed out that the plan was prepared by a team of experts from King Khalid University, represented by the Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Center for Environmental and Tourism Research and Studies, in addition to representatives from the Emirate of the Region, Asir Secretariat, the General Authority for Tourism, the Meteorological and Environmental Protection Branch, and the Ministry of Environment. The Rector stated that the plan succinctly laid out the vision, mission, and strategic goals. Moreover, the development of environmental components, tourism infrastructure, cultural heritage, infrastructure and investment opportunities, training of national cadres, and tourism media were included.
In his speech, Director of the Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Center for Environmental and Tourism Research and Studies, the Head of the research team, Dr. Hussein bin Mana Al-Wadai, explained that the plan stems from the Thriving Economy theme of Vision 2030. As such, it contains more than 600 unprecedented initiatives to achieve comprehensive development of these sites. The plan was devised over four chapters. The first chapter includes the diagnostic studies, the second chapter includes the comprehensive development plan, the third chapter includes the detailed methods of execution, and the fourth chapter details a number of conclusions and recommendations to ensure successful implementation.
