Encountering Saudi Workforce Challenges in the Travel, Tourism, and Hospitality Industry within the Current Rapid Development in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

This study analyses human resources challenges encountered in the rapidly expanding Saudi tourism and hospitality industry. It critically reviews literature pertaining to aspects including the examination of fast development in the Saudi tourism, the link between human resources and the tourism industry, and analysing the human resources challenges, identifying potential solutions suggested by previous works. Based on this existing knowledge, a survey questionnaire was designed and administered to a sample of 50 Saudi tourism experts, comprising 10 each key institutions (the Ministry of Tourism, the Saudi Tourism Authority, Hilton Hotel staff, Braira Al Nakheel Riyadh employees, and Shawarmer Restaurants workers), 30 of whom responded successfully completed the instrument. The results were discussed from different angles, exploring factors of rapid development, motives and impact of lack skilled workforce issue, and Saudi tourism strategy in overcoming to overcome human resource shortages. Overall, the results of this study indicate that the Saudi education system has to be revamped to meet industry workforce demands. Marketing and historical attractions (heritage tourism) were identified as factors to galvanise the development of the industry, while obstacles uncovered by the results include Saudi socio-cultural misconceptions towards working in the industry, which must be addressed in relation to government solutions to transform such views through offering appropriate job opportunities and launching media campaigns. Moreover, the study found several programmes and scholarships initiatives under government strategy to solve human resources shortages, and many employees revealed that they hold tourism and hospitality qualifications, which are also outcomes of the government’s long-term strategy. This paper addresses the dearth of studies of Saudi Arabia’s exponentially growing tourism industry, and helps inform solutions to overcome current challenges of tourism human resources. In addition, the study offers an effective addition to the literature of Saudi Arabia in the context of examining some policies such as Saudization, analysing some programmes to be an immediate solution during the rapid growth period.