Step inside a hotel lobby in Riyadh. There’s a Saudi receptionist offering directions in crisp Najdi Arabic. A local tour guide gestures toward ancient ruins in Hegra, his voice rich with pride. A young woman in Abha plans out itineraries for visitors drawn to the misty peaks of Asir.
This is what the future of tourism in Saudi Arabia looks like.
The Ministry of Tourism, in partnership with the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, Saudi Arabia, is set to localize 41 tourism professions. The plan is clear. These jobs will now be reserved for Saudi nationals. Not as a temporary fix, but as a long-term shift in how the Kingdom builds its tourism industry, with local voices leading the way.
Saudi Tourism and Vision 2030
Tourism is one of the pillars of Vision 2030. The government has poured billions into restoring heritage sites, developing luxury resorts, and launching initiatives like Riyadh Season and Diriyah Gate. The aim isn’t just to bring in travelers. It’s to make tourism a sustainable career path for Saudis across the country.
That’s where this move comes in. By hiring locals in key tourism positions, the Kingdom is nurturing a workforce that doesn’t just operate within the industry, but connects deeply with its purpose.
The Three-Phase Approach
Saudi Arabia’s plan to localize tourism professions rolls out in three stages. Each one builds on the last.
Phase One: April 2026
This first step covers 28 roles. Four of them will be fully localized. The rest will see 50 to 70 percent of staff made up of Saudi nationals. These jobs include:
- Hotel Manager
- Hotel Receptionist
- Travel Agency Manager
- Tourism Organizer
- Site Guide
- Sales Specialist
- Planning and Development Manager
It’s a mix of leadership, guest-facing, and specialized roles, those that shape the visitor experience from check-in to check-out.
Phase Two: January 2027
The plan deepens. One more role enters the fold, with a 30 percent localization requirement. This gradual rollout gives employers time to recruit and train local talent, ensuring both service and operations stay strong.
Phase Three: January 2028
This step shifts the weight. Saudis will fill half of all leadership roles across the tourism sector. These roles aren’t symbolic. They lay the foundation for long-term influence, ownership, and direction from within the Kingdom.
The Full Scope: What Jobs Are Included?
The list of 41 localized tourism jobs in Saudi Arabia spans three major categories:
Leadership roles
Hotel Manager, Hotel Operations Manager, Travel Agency Manager, Planning and Development Manager
Specialist roles
Tourism Development Specialist, Hotel Specialist, Tourism Guidance Specialist, Procurement Specialist, Sales Specialist
Customer-facing roles
Hotel Receptionist, Tourism Organizer, Site Guide
These jobs carry the first and last impressions. They’re the ones that welcome guests, solve problems, share stories, and help travelers feel a sense of place.
Why This Matters
Tourism isn’t only about landmarks or luxury. It’s about connection. A visitor might forget the name of a site, but they’ll remember the guide who walked them through it. The receptionist who made them feel at home. The planner who mapped out an unforgettable trip through Al Ahsa’s palm groves.
By filling these roles with Saudi nationals, the industry becomes richer in meaning and more rooted in place.
There’s another layer to this, too. Saudi Arabia’s plan to localize tourism professions opens up real career opportunities for thousands of Saudis. It supports youth entering the job market and women stepping into new roles. It fosters pride in local culture, not just as something to preserve, but something to lead with.
Training and Talent Building
A shift like this doesn’t happen without support. The ministries are rolling out vocational programs and certification tracks in hospitality, tourism planning, guest services, and operations. Training is happening both in classrooms and on the ground, through internships, mentorship, and skills development with tourism companies.
This ensures that by the time a Saudi worker steps into a localized role, they’re ready to thrive.
Support for Businesses
Tourism operators aren’t being left on their own. A full procedural guide outlines how the plan works, what quotas apply, and how to stay compliant. There’s a system in place for audits and progress tracking, along with support for employers to transition smoothly and retain quality service.
The aim is collaboration, not disruption.
Long-Term Impact
The impact of this localization initiative goes beyond employment numbers. It transforms how Saudi tourism is seen by locals, by visitors, and by the world.
When travelers are greeted by Saudi staff, guided through heritage sites by people who grew up nearby, or welcomed into hotels run by locals, it creates a different kind of experience. One that’s more personal, more meaningful, more rooted in context.
This also pushes the tourism sector toward long-term sustainability. By investing in local talent, the Kingdom is building a sector that can grow with resilience and innovation, shaped by the people who live and breathe its culture.
Saudi Arabia as a Tourism Leader
With this plan, Saudi Arabia is building a people-first tourism economy. It’s a future where people cultivate careers instead of importing them. Where locals tell their own stories instead of translating someone else’s. Where the travel industry grows from local pride, shared knowledge, and opportunities that begin at home.
This is what leadership looks like. Quiet, steady, and deeply rooted.
FAQs
What does it mean that Saudi Arabia is localizing 41 tourism jobs?
Saudi Arabia is reserving 41 specific tourism roles, such as hotel managers, receptionists, and tour guides, for Saudi nationals as part of its Vision 2030 workforce development strategy.
When will the localization of tourism professions in Saudi Arabia begin?
The first phase starts in April 2026, with two more phases set for January 2027 and January 2028. Each phase expands the number of jobs to be localized in the Saudi tourism sector.
Which tourism jobs are included in Saudi Arabia’s localization plan?
The list includes hotel management, sales specialists, tourism planners, site guides, travel agency managers, receptionists, and other key leadership and guest-facing roles.
How will the localization of tourism jobs impact employment in Saudi Arabia?
The initiative is expected to create thousands of tourism career opportunities for Saudi nationals, especially youth and women, while enhancing cultural authenticity for travelers.
Why is Saudi Arabia localizing tourism jobs now?
The move supports economic diversification, reduces dependence on foreign labor, and aligns with Vision 2030’s goal to grow tourism and build a locally driven workforce.
