Saudi Arabia has established the “King Faisal International Academy for Tourism & Hospitality and Royal Services” through a collaboration between the Ministry of Tourism and the King Faisal Charitable Foundation. The memorandum of understanding was signed during the Saudi Tourism Forum in Riyadh with the goal of developing talent and empowering Saudi nationals to become leaders in the hospitality industry. The academy is set to become a major supporter of Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to diversify the economy and enhance various sectors including tourism, recreation, education, and more. The academy will offer academic programs designed to enhance the growth of the tourism and hospitality industry, with accredited programs by leading international institutions to qualify the new generation to compete globally.
Experts consider Saudisation, government-backed targets to hire more locals, as a divisive topic in hospitality. While everyone agrees that employing more Saudi locals is beneficial, some argue that hiring based on targets rather than talent is not the right approach. The experts suggest that localisation efforts should be intensified not to reach a bigger number but to create additional inspiring stories for young hoteliers. During the first-ever Hospitality3.0 Conference, four leaders in hospitality, F&B, and asset management discussed how to attract and retain Saudi nationals.