Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — Smart applications have emerged as key enablers of the Saudi tourism sector in the midst of the rapid digital transformation being witnessed in the Kingdom. They have helped reshape the visitor experience, facilitate mobility, and enable efficient, seamless exploration of heritage, cultural, and entertainment destinations.

The Visit Saudi application stands out as one of the leading digital platforms enhancing the visitor experience across the Kingdom. It offers comprehensive, interactive content that highlights the country's diverse tourist attractions and showcases seasonal events and festivals held throughout its regions.

The app allows users to explore cultural, heritage, and natural sites and to book tours and tourism activities with ease, positioning itself as a trusted digital reference for visitors from inside and outside the Kingdom. It enriches their experience and fulfills aspirations for a modern, integrated tourism journey.

In the realm of smart government services, the Tawakkalna application serves as an advanced digital tool that supports the visitor journey within the Kingdom. It provides essential information and services for tourists, including weather updates, healthcare facility locations, smart parking options, and emergency contact details. The application exemplifies digital transformation in the public service sector by improving communication efficiency between visitors and service providers. This enhances the quality of the visit and reinforces the Kingdom’s image as a digitally advanced, world-class tourist destination.

In the area of electronic booking and event experience management, the webook application functions as a comprehensive platform for reserving tickets to attractions and entertainment venues. It features a user-friendly interface, multiple electronic payment options, and direct integration with the national events calendar.

The app empowers visitors to plan their trips with innovation and ease, aligning with their needs and expectations, thereby enhancing satisfaction and improving access to entertainment services throughout the Kingdom.

For real-time tracking of events and festivals, the Enjoy Saudi application is a key interactive tool that provides up-to-date information on event locations, schedules, and nearby services. It helps connect visitors with cultural and entertainment offerings by identifying the closest ongoing events and offering directions to reach them, representing a qualitative leap in delivering a tourism experience enriched by data and digital content.

Tourism experts affirm that the integration of smart applications has greatly improved service quality and visitor satisfaction. They emphasize that this system also reflects a modern image of the tourism sector’s technological advancement, especially during peak seasons like summer, when technical and on-ground efforts converge to support travelers from planning to departure.

In collaboration with public and private stakeholders, the Ministry of Tourism continues to develop and integrate digital services to ensure a safe and seamless visitor experience. These efforts aim to boost attractiveness, increase satisfaction, improve the efficiency of tourism spending, and attract visitors from regional and international markets.

Digital transformation in the tourism sector is viewed as a foundational pillar for achieving the goals of the national vision. It strengthens the Kingdom’s global competitiveness and supports the creation of a tourism experience rooted in innovation, quality, and hospitality—set against a backdrop of rich cultural, historical, and natural landscapes—embodying the modern Saudi identity and reinforcing the Kingdom’s prominence on the global tourism map.