Exploring the Impact of Vision 2030 on Saudi Arabia's Hospitality and Tourism Industry

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 on the country’s hospitality and tourism industry, focusing on how national reforms are experienced and interpreted by key industry stakeholders. Vision 2030 aims to diversify the Saudi economy, reduce oil dependence, and develop a globally competitive tourism sector through giga-projects such as NEOM, AlUla, and the Red Sea. Using a qualitative, interpretivist methodology, the research draws on semi-structured interviews with 15 professionals representing public agencies, giga-project management teams, and private enterprises across various regions. Thematic analysis reveals four core findings: economic transformation, sustainability implementation gaps, cultural authenticity concerns, and stakeholder coordination challenges. The study applies tourism development and destination branding theories to contextualize these themes, highlighting both the ambitious scale of reform and the practical frictions encountered during implementation. Contributions include an empirical perspective on stakeholder alignment, a critique of top-down planning in emerging destinations, and recommendations for more inclusive and sustainable tourism governance. This research offers theoretical and practical insights for policymakers, industry leaders, and scholars examining transformational tourism agendas in developing economies.