Women in the transformation taking place in Saudi Arabia right now

International Women’s Day celebrates the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. So today, I wanted to talk about some of the achievements within tourism both internationally and in Saudi Arabia – especially how women are supporting and driving the exciting transformation in the country today.

At the global level, tourism employs 54% women versus 46% within the overall economy, signifying the unique opportunities that our sector can create thanks to flexible working options and lower barriers to entry.  

In Saudi Arabia, progress in the field of women’s empowerment is thanks to Vision 2030 – the country’s ambitious plan to transform Saudi Arabia, diversify its economy away from oil and open to the world. It aims to create an ambitious nation, a thriving economy, and a vibrant society that allows citizens to achieve their dreams, hopes and aspirations. The empowerment of women is a major part of this.

The World Bank Women, Business, and the Law Report 2020 ranked Saudi Arabia as the country which has made most progress in gender equality since 2017. These days, 57% of university graduates in Saudi Arabia are female. And over the last five years, women’s participation in the workforce has almost doubled.

While these numbers are impressive in themselves, they truly speak to the reality that I’ve seen since coming to work in the Kingdom. Women are well-educated and productive. By taking control of their own destiny, they are driving the country’s socio-economic transformation. They are empowered.

In 2019, Saudi Arabia launched its international e-visa for 49 countries to welcome international leisure tourists to the Kingdom. Since borders re-opened last summer, 42% of visas were granted to female travelers, demonstrating international interest in what’s on offer. This is also testament to the fact that Saudi Arabia is not only an exciting destination for female travelers, but a safe one too. Just last month, Medina was rated the world’s safest city for solo female travelers.

Within the domestic tourism sphere, we are also moving forward. By 2030, we aim to create 1 million new jobs. Thanks to reforms like the decision to allow women to become licensed tour guides in 2018, the share of female employees increased to 40% in 2021. And 25% of Saudi tourism SMEs are owned by women. 

We now have many female tour guides in the Kingdom – women who are passionate about their country and keen to tell its story. I met Abeer Abu Suleiman – Saudi’s first female tour guide – in Jeddah. She is a cultural heritage expert and was instrumental in Historical Jeddah being designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. I also met with Mona Al Turief – another pioneer in the field. She spoke about how becoming a licensed tour guide enabled her to combine her passion for exploring nature with her natural skillset as an educator while learning more about her country.

But what was most inspiring about both of their stories is that their work as a tour guide has acted as a springboard to other opportunities. Abeer now trains tour guides to become ambassadors for their country and sits on numerous boards, including the Saudi ICOMOS Board, which preserves world heritage. While Mona has secured numerous consulting positions supporting local tour operators and DMCs to develop the country’s tourism offering.

Within the Ministry of Tourism and government ecosystem, I also work with many young, dynamic, and talented amazing Saudi women. They are so professional, dedicated, and proud to be working in our amazing sector – like many others I’ve worked with throughout my career around the world. It is wonderful to see the transformation taking place and the real impact of the opportunities being created on their lives. Now is a truly exciting time to be in Saudi Arabia and I am grateful to play a part in changes that will ensure a bright future for all citizens.