Riyadh – Mubasher: The gross booking value (GBV) of Seera Group rose by 6% during the third quarter of 2019, recording 3.3 million, compared to SAR 3.1 million in Q3-18.

The Middle East’s leading technology-powered travel and tourism company noted that the impact of the non-renewal of the Ministry Of Education contract was more than offset by the strong and consistent growth in consumer travel and car rental units, according to Seera’s statement on Monday.

Over the same quarter, consumer travel reached SAR 1.3 billion, versus SAR 861 million in the same quarter of 2018.

“Our performance highlights our commitment to build the tourism value chain of the Kingdom, as Saudi Arabia enters a new era of growth,” Abdullah Al Dawood, CEO of Seera, commented.

Moreover, car rental posted a 78% year-on-year increase in Q3-19, recording SAR 73 million.

The CEO added that the private sector will play a key role in enabling global visitors to experience the rich and diverse cultural heritage and modern attractions of the Kingdom.

It is worth noting that the group set strategic measures to ensure that it leads to the transformation of the tourism sector, following the announcement of the new visa framework by the Saudi Tourism Authority (SCTH).

“The visa framework marks the dawn of a new era, one rich with opportunities, and one that will position the Kingdom as among the most popular tourist destinations in the world. The Saudi Tourism Strategy outlines a clear and concerted focus to boost both domestic tourism as well as international inbound travellers,” Al Dawood concluded.