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THR a Key Selected Representative of the Spanish Tourism Authority in the Saudi-Spanish Investment Forum
Last Sunday, June 5th, THR Tourism Industry Advisors was honored to be invited to participate at the Saudi – Spanish Investment Forum in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as a member of the Spanish delegation headed by the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, Reyes Maroto, together with other distinguished Spanish companies such as Acciona, Amadeus and Hesperia.
The forum was chaired by the Saudi Ministers of Investment and Tourism, the Spanish Minister and the Spanish Ambassador, who welcomed the participation of Spanish and Saudi companies seeking new investment opportunities.
“Spanish companies can contribute to the development and promotion of the important projects that Saudi Arabia is developing thanks to their leadership and proven international experience.”
Reyes Maroto, Spanish Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism
The forum hosted a prestigious panel of speakers and was aimed at presenting the most emblematic projects being developed in the region, including NEOM and the Red Sea Project.
THR – Spain’s leading tourism advisory firm, now a part of the International Tourism Group – was invited to participate in a panel discussion dedicated to Hospitality Management and Technological Innovation, moderated by Majed AlGhanim, Managing Director of Investment Development at the Saudi Ministry of Investment.
THR was represented on this occasion by Carlos Vogeler, Chairman of the organization’s Advisory Board, who shared with the audience an analysis of tourism demand in the “new normal.” This research included insights into how tourist expectations have changed, how tourists have become more digitized, self-sufficient and demanding of new experiences, as well as how they are becoming more conscious and responsible about their impact on the destinations they visit.
During his articulation in the panel session, Mr. Vogeler highlighted that investment is not only about infrastructure and facilities but that following current demand trends, tourism destinations can only be truly successful when they also invest in a balanced approach between technology and hospitality excellence, which in other words can be described as “high tech – high touch”.
Mr. Vogeler also compared Saudi and Spanish tourism resources and objectives, offering THR’s experience, having actively participated in the development of the Spanish national tourism strategy, and that of many other international destinations.
Additionally, technical visits for the Spanish delegation were organised to the Saudi developments of Diriayh and Qiddiya in the vicinity of Riyadh, in which the participants were given an overview of the ambitious plans for tourism development in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where THR is already involved in multiple tourism development projects.