In a unique initiative aimed at creating pool of trained hospitality sector managers, a batch of 200 Saudi Arabian nationals has successfully completed their training from Les Roches Global Hospitality Education, in Marbella, Spain.

As it races towards its ambitious goal of receiving 100 million tourists every year by the year 2030, Saudi Arabia has been aggressively ramping up its tourism-related infrastructure, notably large-scale construction of hotels, accounting for the largest share of new hotel rooms in the world.

Alongside, the desert kingdom has also been ensuring that it has adequately trained personnel in sufficient numbers for these hotels. As part of this initiative, last week over 200 Saudi nationals successfully completed their hospitality training from Les Roches Global Hospitality Education, in Marbella, Spain. The statement adds that the 200 persons completed the Executive Master’s International Hotel Management Programme.

The statement adds that the International Hotel Management Programme, initiated in October 2022, holds a prominent position in Saudi Arabian Ministry of Tourism’s new human capital development strategy. Designed to support the Kingdom’s rapidly growing tourism industry, the programme aims to attract more Saudi nationals to the sector, aligning with the National Tourism Strategy and Saudi Vision 2030’s ambitious goals, including the creation of one million new jobs in tourism by 2030. This strategic alignment underscores the programme’s commitment to driving sustainable economic growth and building a highly skilled workforce capable of leading the future of the tourism industry, says the statement.

Over a period of nine months, the participants, as part of the customised executive education Ahluha programme completed 6 modules covering essential skills for today’s hospitality leaders in business management. These modules included advanced finance and budgeting, marketing strategies, data analytics, hospitality real estate investments, and international business strategies. The programme also provided opportunity for hotel management professionals to strengthen their understanding of fundamentals across hospitality management and contribute further to the development of tourism in the Kingdom.

The commencement ceremony, held at the Palacio de Congresos, was a momentous occasion, bringing together a distinguished audience guests, including students and their families. The event was held under the patronage of Vice Minister of Tourism Princess Haifa bint Mohammed Al Saud and Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Minister of Tourism Mohammed Bushnag.

‘‘This educational initiative marks a pivotal step towards nurturing the talents of our youth and developing a robust hospitality sector that aligns with our Vision 2030 objectives. I am deeply inspired by the dedication and passion exhibited by these young Saudi talents. With their skills and knowledge, they are poised to become true ambassadors of Saudi Arabia’s hospitality and tourism excellence, contributing significantly to our nation’s growth and prosperity,” said Princess Haifa bint Muhammad Al Saud.

“These graduates are the future leaders of our tourism industry, and their success today is a testament to the Ministry of Tourism’s commitment to human capital development. We are proud to be able to provide them with the skills that will help them thrive,” says Bushnag.

“Les Roches takes immense pride in being a partner in this transformative journey. We firmly believe in empowering the next generation of hospitality leaders, and this programme exemplifies our commitment to fostering talent and driving innovation in the global hospitality industry,” said Carlos Diez de la Lastra, CEO of Les Roches.

The statement adds that with the completion of the programme, these graduates are now poised to leave an indelible mark in the hospitality and tourism sector, embodying the values of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.