The partnership was officially launched today in Mumbai.
The Saudi Tourism Authority (STA) has begun an official partnership with the TATA Indian Premier League, the world’s premier Twenty 20 cricket league (IPL).
Today’s event in Mumbai was attended by Jay Shah, Secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Rajeev Shukla, Vice President of the BCCI, and Ashish Shelar, Honorary Treasurer of the BCCI, as well as representatives from the Saudi Tourism Authority, including Alhasan Aldabbagh, President of APAC.
Cricket is one of the most popular sports worldwide. Through this collaboration, STA hopes to tap into the two countries’ strong fan bases, encourage affinity, and raise awareness of Saudi as a leading destination for Indian travellers, particularly young people.
With more than half of its population under 30, India has a similar demographic profile to Saudi Arabia, which has 58 percent of its population in the same age group.
India has enormous potential as part of Saudi Arabia’s tourism strategy, as it is expected to be the country’s largest tourism source market by 2030. The collaboration exemplifies Saudi Arabia’s commitment to the country’s sports sector. Saudi Arabia continues to strengthen its market position, and it expects to welcome more than two million visitors from India this year.
The IPL is one of the most important events on the international sporting calendar, and the partnership adds to STA’s growing portfolio of global strategic partnerships. Partnerships like the IPL are an important part of Saudi Arabia’s tourism strategy because they bring together fans, athletes, and nations while also stir up the interest of those who want to be among the first to visit Saudi Arabia.
“India and Saudi Arabia share a vibrant youth culture, and sport is an ideal platform to engage and inspire young people,” said Fahd Hamidaddin, CEO and Member of the Board at Saudi Tourism Authority. Saudi Arabia is dedicated to promoting sporting excellence and encouraging greater participation and a higher quality of life among Saudi and global audiences alike.
Sport, like tourism, brings people together in fellowship and harmony, bridging cultures and sharing perspectives on the world around us. These values are central to Saudi culture and are promoted by young people worldwide.”
“As part of our global marketing strategy, the Indian subcontinent region is a key market for STA, and we are constantly improving ways to excite tourists from these countries and welcome them to Saudi,” said Alhasan Aldabbagh, APAC President at Saudi Tourism Authority. We are excited to announce our partnership with the IPL because we know how important cricket is to our South Asian visitors.
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