Saudi Arabia launches CVB

SAUDI Arabia is the latest to join a growing list of destinations keen on attracting business events, and has created the Saudi Exhibition and Convention Bureau (SECB) to spearhead efforts in the area.

The new bureau will seek to implement efficient and transparent licensing processes in the MICE industry, collect and analyse industry data, classify and enhance existing and future event venues, train and certify event organisers, implement marketing strategies, and develop related university programmes and destination awareness programmes.

SECB will be governed by a Supervisory Committee which consists of one representative each from the Ministry of Municipality and Rural Affairs, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Ministry of Finance, as well as two representatives from related companies nominated by the Saudi Council of Chambers.

Sultan bin Salman bin Abdul Aziz, president of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA), chairs the Supervisory Committee, while Tariq Al-Essa takes the role of SECB executive manager.

Prior to the formation of SECB, SCTA and the World Bank conducted several studies on the country’s MICE sector. More than 3.2 million visitors were found to have attended events held in Saudi Arabia every year, generating an economic impact of 8.6 billion riyal (US$2.3 billion).

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