At the Future Investment Initiative conference in Riyadh, Ben Elliot spoke about the surge of entertainment and tourism opportunities in Saudi Arabia, citing new developments like Sindalah and AlUla. He emphasized the importance of quality in these fast-evolving sectors. Fellow panelist Brent Montgomery highlighted the potential for regional content creation due to increased global connectivity.
At a recent Future Investment Initiative conference held in Riyadh, Ben Elliot, the founder of the luxury services company Quintessentially, emphasized the considerable growth of the entertainment and tourism sectors in Saudi Arabia. He characterized the opportunities arising from advancements in dining, hospitality, and cultural tourism as an “avalanche” of prospects for both locals and international visitors alike. Elliott noted that the recent opening of Sindalah, a luxury island resort part of the NEOM megacity project spearheaded by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, exemplifies the new wave of hospitality developments. In addition to Sindalah, Elliot highlighted the historical city of AlUla as a prominent tourist attraction, particularly since the Kingdom’s introduction of its first tourist visa system in 2019, which allowed for unprecedented access to the city. He remarked, “It’s amazing. But we wouldn’t have had any of these conversations three or four years ago; none of it was opened up. So I think everything is changing very fast. The key thing is to make sure that everything is done fastidiously well, not to rush some of those things.” Another panel member, Brent Montgomery, CEO of Wheelhouse Entertainment and creator of the popular reality show “Pawn Stars,” spoke positively about the potential for the entertainment industry within Saudi Arabia. Montgomery suggested that the interconnectedness of today’s world facilitates the development of non-fiction content, revealing a growing interest in regional narratives due to global platforms like Netflix. He stated, “I think there’s a lot of opportunity to show and experience this region in non-fiction… It used to be that when many of us TV producers would make a show in one region, it would take two or three years to hit other regions. Now, these programs hit immediately and I think people want to see it in other places.”
The discussion at the Future Investment Initiative conference illustrates Saudi Arabia’s dramatic transformation in the entertainment and tourism sectors, particularly under the Vision 2030 initiative spearheaded by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. This initiative aims to diversify the economy beyond oil dependency and promote cultural engagement and tourism as key development pillars. The introduction of a tourist visa system in 2019 marked a significant shift in accessibility to the Kingdom’s historical sites, such as AlUla, which had previously seen limited international tourism. The success of newly launched luxury destinations like Sindalah further supports this vision, cementing Saudi Arabia’s position as an emerging player in the global entertainment and tourism markets.
In summary, the Future Investment Initiative conference highlighted the rapid evolution of Saudi Arabia’s entertainment and tourism sectors, signifying a shift towards a more diverse economy. Industry leaders like Ben Elliot and Brent Montgomery emphasized the plentiful opportunities that have arisen from recent developments, particularly in hospitality and content creation. As the Kingdom continues to welcome international visitors and build on its cultural assets, the prospects for growth within these industries appear promising.
Original Source: www.arabnews.com
