The cultural and economic reforms undergone by Saudi Arabia since 2016 are perhaps most visible in the entertainment sector. For over three decades entertainment and cultural outlets, such as cinemas, art galleries and theatres, were banned. So too were artistic practices including film-making and live music. Since being elevated to a position of executive importance, however, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud has lifted restrictions and targeted the creation of a vibrant arts and entertainment scene as a means to propel tourism, improve the quality of life for citizens and raise international awareness of Saudi Arabia’s increasingly open economy.
This chapter contains an interview with Turki Alalshikh, Chairman, General Entertainment Authority.
Tourism
Chapter | Entertainment from The Report: Saudi Arabia 2022
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The economy of Kuwait has long been underpinned by the production and export of crude oil. Although the rise in energy prices in 2021-22 boosted government revenue and macroeconomic stability, the Covid-19 pandemic, which preceded the commodity price boom, underscored the risk of over-reliance on an industry subject to fluctuating global demand. This has created fresh impetus for economic diversification, with robust public finances providing a strong platform to...
Articles & Analysis | Saudi Arabia expands entertainment options to improve quality of life from The Report: Saudi Arabia 2022
The cultural and economic reforms undergone by Saudi Arabia since 2016 are perhaps most visible in the entertainment sector. For over three decades entertainment and cultural outlets such as cinemas, art galleries and theatres were banned. So too were artistic practices including filmmaking and live music. Since being elevated to a position of executive importance, however,...
Interviews & Viewpoints | Turki Alalshikh, Chairman, General Entertainment Authority (GEA): Interview from The Report: Saudi Arabia 2022
How are ongoing developments in the entertainment industry improving the business and investment climate in the Kingdom?
Articles & Analysis | Saudi Arabia’s ambitious tourism projects attract foreign investment from The Report: Saudi Arabia 2022
Saudi Arabia is rolling out a broad tourism offering across the country as a central part of its Vision 2030 national transformation strategy. Following the launch of the tourist visa programme in September 2019 and the subsequent downturn associated with the Covid-19 pandemic, 2021 and 2022 have featured an ambitious calendar of events ranging from the Formula 1 Grand Prix,...
Articles & Analysis | How the global tourism industry is adopting sustainable practices from The Report: Saudi Arabia 2022
The global tourism industry – which accounted for 10% of GDP and 8% of global emissions in 2019 – is faced with the challenge of ensuring continued growth while working towards net-zero emissions goals. Several stakeholders in emerging markets and further afield offer useful case studies to understand what a decarbonised future for the industry could look like.
Interviews & Viewpoints | John Pagano, Group CEO, The Red Sea Development Company: Interview from The Report: Saudi Arabia 2022
How is sustainability shaping investment attraction strategies for tourism-related giga-projects?