Saudi Arabia to Spend $1 Trillion Over a Decade to Build a Global Tourism Economy

In addition to the investment that it has already made in the last five years, Saudi Arabia plans to invest another $1 trillion in the tourism sector over the next 10 years.

"Today, Saudi Arabia is the largest investing destination in the tourism sector,” said Fahd Hamidaddin, CEO of the Saudi Tourism Authority.

Having set the ball rolling, the destination has signed up Argentinian soccer star Lionel Messi as its newest tourism ambassador even as American golfer Jack Nicklaus says he turned down $100 million to be the face of Saudi-backed LIV Golf Series according to reports on Monday.

Of course, the country historically struggled to win over both domestic and international tourists due to societal limitations, including a strict no-drinking policy and severe restrictions for women, as well as allegations of human rights abuses against journalists.

But the once popular religious destination is now pivoting towards leisure tourism with a calendar of events which would have once seemed unimaginable in the country. And then there is the goal to at