RCU is honoured not only by AlUla's inclusion as a BTV but by its selection as host of this inaugural BTV global gathering.Įng. The inclusion of AlUla on the 2022 list is an accolade in support of RCU's careful regeneration, cultural rejuvenation, and curated redevelopment of heritage destinations. A place of collaboration and cultural exchange for a millennia, there is a natural synergy between the destination and the UNWTO's BTV programme. In 2019 Saudi Arabia introduced eVisas for citizens of 49 countries, and this February the Kingdom introduced a 96-hour stopover visa.įor the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) the gathering affirms AlUla's legacy as a cultural crossroads. The BTV programme aligns with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, which aims to triple tourism's share of the national economy to 10%. The UNWTO Secretary-General, Zurab Pololikashvili, is expected to attend. It will also review the programme's 2022 activities and 2023 work plan.ĭelegates originating from Switzerland to Vietnam will gather at AlUla's Maraya multi-purpose venue, which holds the Guinness record as the world's largest mirror-clad building, with mirrors covering its 9,740 sqm surface. The event will be a forum for knowledge-sharing on topics such as best practices, community empowerment, and public-private partnerships. UNWTO have organised the first iteration of the Best Tourism Villages Award Ceremony and meeting of the BTV Network in AlUla on March 12-13.

The villages, including AlUla Old Town District were recognised in December as part of UNWTO's Best Tourism Villages (BTV) initiative, 'recognises villages that are an outstanding example of a rural tourism destination with accredited cultural and natural assets, that preserve and promote rural and community-based values, products, and lifestyle and have a clear commitment to innovation and sustainability in all its aspects – economic, social, and environmental.'

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