Launching NFT Souvenirs Takes Saudi Toward Digital Tourism
As a token of appreciation towards the heads of delegations participating in the 116th session of the Executive Council of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) in Jeddah, H.E. Ahmed Al-Khateeb, the Minister of Tourism of Saudi Arabia, presented them with NFT (non-fungible token) souvenirs. This personalised digital memento is a reflection of the digital advancement of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).
NFT is an innovative technology that allows us to conserve some of the world’s newest and most unique artworks like digital paintings, music, audio or video recording, and so much more, with digital existence. This revolutionary technology will merge the physical world with the metaverse. The metaverse is a simulated digital environment immersed in the virtual reality world. As a form of social interaction, it uses augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), blockchain and other digital media elements. The ownership of such digital tokens is stored within the blockchain.
A renowned digital artist painted a collection of stunning 3D landscapes which were influenced by some beautiful Saudi landmarks On the sidelines of the event. These paintings were later gifted to the guests in the form of NFTs as well as a ledger wallet with an address on the blockchain that will give them access to the exclusive artworks they now own.
H.E. has stated that the NFT souvenirs embody the leadership’s vision for the future of the Kingdom. He also said, “As technology advances, it is important that we remain at the forefront of innovation. Our tourism infrastructure is designed to embrace new trends, and digital transformation is one of our top priorities. The NFTs serve as a bold statement to the world that Saudi Arabia is developing an unparalleled tourism sector where travellers can expect to see and experience unique and futuristic offerings.”
“We are delighted that our guests will get to take home a digital manifestation of their unforgettable moments spent here in the Kingdom’s most exciting touristic landmarks,” he further added.
When it comes to digital transformation, Saudi Arabia has shown the most development and hopes to achieve its directives of Vision 2030 through the growth of the digital economy. A three-year Digital Tourism Strategy was introduced this year by the Ministry of Tourism in pursuit of achieving these goals. This strategy concentrates on nine innovative programs with 31 core initiatives to accelerate the growth of the tourism sector, create new jobs, and inspire more innovations. The tourism sector’s 10% GDP contribution, 100 million new visits and 1 million new tourism-related jobs are the expected outcomes of these programs, which are the National Tourism Strategy and Vision 2030 targets of KSA.