Fatima Muhammad

Saudi Gazette

JEDDAH — Turkey is seeking to enhance training and investment exchange with Saudi Arabia, with the countries having agreed to exchange expertise between their two flower cities of Taif and Isparta.



Amid this new exchange of expertise, a leading Arab Tourism Organization (ATO) sounded a dire warning of reduced tourist numbers to the region thereby rise in losses.



Bandar Al-Fuhaid president of ATO, said that rebuilding trust in the Arab region is “difficult,” especially after the series of political unrest.

He stated that the region has lost 10 million tourists during the Arab Spring with Egypt alone losing 3 million tourists. He stressed that this fall in numbers has also resulted in losses that reached $15 billions, and countless number of employees remaining jobless in the tourism sector.



Turkey, meanwhile, is now offering ten flower factory owners from Taif the chance to go and be trained at Isparta, which is known internationally for its special flowers and fruits especially apples and cherries.



Isparta Governor Mamdouh Oguz said that the city produces 700,000 tons of apples, and 25,000 tons of cherries annually. Oguz was speaking at the ATO meet here in Jeddah.



According to him they will start offering 10 factory owners the chance to “take experiences from Isparta’s long history in flower production.” In turn, Turkey will be sending some specialists to explore Taif flower production. The exchange of trainees is expected to increase through universities agreements.



Oguz elaborated that they have realized through their visit to Taif that factories still used primary methods and they seek, through training, to introduce people, working in flower production, to the latest and advanced methods in this sector.



He added that they would also provide support and aid to Saudi investors approaching their city. He added that their city welcomes 5 million tourists a year and they are looking forward to having Saudis coming to their city.



 Al-Fuhaid, apart from the Arab Spring eroding the trust factor, stated that they have worked on implementing number of the recommendations to overcome the catastrophes and losses in the tourism sector as well as to enhance tourism in the Arab region.



He added that the Arab tourist is spending $1,800 in five days, which drives many to strive to welcome Arab tourists, especially as the tourists from other countries spend, at an average, only $300.



He said that the Arab region is hoping to welcome more Turkish tourists and are seeking to benefit by exchanges of experience.



“We are heading to a strategic move towards Turkey. We enhanced that by providing a security program for investment in cooperation with the Islamic Development Bank as well as the establishment of Arab–Turkish airline with a budget of $30 million,” he added.



He elaborated, “The world spends $570 million annually on tourism, this sector provides 450 million jobs. The Arab region was able to attract only 35 million tourists of 850 million tourists, who toured the world. “

Al-Fuhaid said the number of tourists is expected to hit one billion by 2013 and the ATO is hoping to increase the number of tourists approaching the region.