Businesses thrive when they combine diverse trends: A growing interest in luxury tourism, Saudi Arabia as a destination, and sustainability have all been combined by The Red Sea Development Company.
The company is based on nature and culture and sets new standards in sustainable development to place Saudi Arabia on the international tourism map. The company’s vision is to go beyond sustainability in order to address the current ecological and climate crisis and undo some damage that has been done.
John Pagano, Group CEO of The Red Sea Development Company, and AMAALA, explains how he describes a regenerative development approach. “Sustainability means not making a mess of the area. It’s about not making a mess of the place, while regeneration is about trying to make it better. Instead of waiting for construction to begin, we brought in scientists to assist us. We began to think about the things we were going to create. We partnered up with King Abdullah University of Science and Technology to study and understand the Red Sea.
This partnership led to the largest marine spatial plan simulation ever conducted. It covered two and a half million square kilometers and included a 90-island island archipelago, which divided the space into 30,000 sq. These were then assigned conservation value and developers came up with different ideas for how to place development and travel routes.
Pagano states that the targets are ambitious, but achievable. We set ourselves a goal to increase the net conservation value by 30% rather than keeping the status quo. How can we achieve this? In fact, we are growing more coral and mangroves. Our coral seems to be more resilient than other reefs to the higher sea temperatures, salinity, and salt levels found in the Red Sea.
To regenerate, you have to embrace renewables. This development will be the largest tourist destination in the world powered entirely by renewable energy. It also means making difficult decisions about where to build. Pagano mentions Waqqadi, an island.
This island has the perfect orientation, white sandy beaches, and turquoise waters. This island was home to the critically endangered hawksbill turtle. We could contribute to the extinction by developing the island. It was not a long discussion. As a reminder of the fact that turtles are first, my team and all those who visit us today received a turtle to wear on the lapel.
In reality, 75 percent of the 90 islands will remain unexplored. A few will be designated special conservation zones, which will be managed by rangers and have very limited access for tourists. As Pagano says:
We are showing the world that overdevelopment can lead to injury. We are limiting our development to protect and enhance and hope that others will follow our example for regenerative development.
Saudi Arabia’s 2030 vision is about diversifying its economy. Tourism plays an important part of that. In fact, tourism and hospitality accounted for over 10% of global GDP and employed almost one in four people before the pandemic. Saudi Arabia’s current tourism sector generates only 3.4% of its GDP. This is largely due to religious tourism to Mecca or Medina. The Red Sea could boost that by as much at 1%. It is being used as a showcase for kingdoms move toward resort development and tourism. The scheme will create up to 60,000 direct jobs, with a further 60,000 dependent on the scheme for both The Red Sea Project and AMAALA.
Pagano believes that there are also opportunities for sustainability.
We believe that all aspects of regeneration are important and that we strive to be carbon neutral starting from day one. We have a 100% green mobility strategy. We are even exploring electric powered planes, vertical takeoff, and landing craft. Next year, we plan to fly a hydrogen seaplan in experimental fashion, as a demonstration of our regenerative commitment.
This luxury destination is one of many. Pagano is confident:
Saudi Arabia will be fascinating, a culture that was previously unobtainable. Our environment is beautiful. It is worth celebrating it and naturally protecting and enhancing it.
The Saudi people are the most friendly and welcoming people. Tourism is a bridge between cultures. It will help people understand what Saudi Arabia is all about.