BUSINESS

GEA to create 200,000 jobs, contribute SR500bn to GDP

October 11, 2017

Fatima Muhammad



Saudi Gazette

JEDDAH
— The Saudi General Entertainment Authority (GEA) said it will provide 200,000 jobs and will contribute SR500 billion to the GDP by 2030.

Hatim Samman, CEO of the GEA, called on the public to be patient and not to judge them. “We have just started 17 months ago and we have succeeded in this short period in organizing different events around Saudi cities despite the challenge and the few options available for entertainment.”

Samman was speaking at the first session of the Jeddah Tourism and Entertainment Forum on Tuesday. He stressed that they are working on a complete framework for entertainment services in all Kingdom cities. He added that they are cooperating with the private sector to improve the options provided. He said that they have studied the entertainment services provided in 14 cities around the world and will implement the best practices in Saudi Arabia.

The second session of the forum discussed the challenges that investors face. Abdulaziz Al-Shabraqi, head of the tourism accommodation committee at Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said that the fees that are imposed by government departments particularly the ministry of labor tend to create challenges to investors. “The increasing water and electricity bills is yet another challenge. In addition to obtaining licenses, getting visas for qualified workers and absence of Saudi trained manpower.” The challenge to Saudization is also among the challenges since Saudi employees do not want to work during vacations which are peak seasons for tourist accommodation sector.

Investors have filed their recommendations previously to the Ministry of Labor and Social Development as well as other concerned authorities. The investors demanded that the tourism accommodation sector should be subdivided into two categories: hotels and furnished apartments. The two subdivisions should be evaluated based on different criteria and the government fees should be reduced.

Investors have also called on the Human Resource Development Fund to protect the rights of employers by designing obligatory contracts between employers and employees. The contracts said the recommendations should prevent any job-leaving. Investors called also on establishing institutes and colleges to prepare the young Saudis to the jobs needed in the tourist accommodation sector.


October 11, 2017
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