Mumbai : The TATA Indian Premier League ( IPL) and the Saudi tourism authority (STA) have officially partnered. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary, Jay Shah, vice president Rajeev Shukla, honorary treasurer Ashish Shelar, and representatives from the Saudi Tourism Authority, including APAC president Alhasan Aldabbagh attended an event today in Mumbai to officially launch the partnership.
One of the most popular sports in the world is cricket. Through this collaboration, STA hopes to capitalise on the two nations' substantial fan bases, foster affinities, and raise awareness of Saudi Arabia as a top tourist destination for Indians, particularly among young people. India's demographics are comparable to those of Saudi Arabia, where 58 percent of the local population falls within the same age range, with more than half of its people being under the age of 30.
India has enormous potential as part of Saudi Arabia's tourism strategy, as it is expected to be the country's largest tourism source market by 2030. The collaboration exemplifies Saudi Arabia's commitment to the country's sports sector. Saudi Arabia continues to strengthen its market position, and it expects to welcome more than two million visitors from India this year.
The IPL is one of the most important events on the international sporting calendar, and the partnership adds to STA's growing portfolio of global strategic partnerships. Partnerships like the IPL are an important part of Saudi Arabia's tourism strategy because they bring together fans, athletes, and nations while also pique the interest of those who want to be among the first to visit Saudi Arabia.
The dynamic partnership builds on Saudi Arabia's history and love of cricket, which began with the establishment of the first governing cricket body in 2003. The Saudi Arabian Cricket Federation (SACF) was established in 2020, and it currently oversees 16 regional associations in 11 cities, has 8,000+ registered players, 400+ registered clubs, and 35,000 participants in domestic cricket tournaments and championships. The Saudi cricket national team is currently ranked 32nd out of 180 cricket nations.
Saudi Tourism Authority CEO and Member of the board Fahd Hamidaddin said, “India and Saudi share a vibrant youth culture and sport is an ideal platform to engage and inspire young people. Saudi is committed to supporting excellence in the world of sport and inspiring greater participation and improved quality of life among Saudi and global audiences alike. Sport, like tourism, brings people together in harmony and fellowship, bridging cultures and sharing perspectives on the world around us. These values are central to Saudi culture and are championed by young people from all around the world.”
Saudi Tourism Authority APAC President Alhasan Aldabbagh said, “As part of our global marketing strategy, the Indian subcontinent region is a key market for STA and we are continually enhancing ways in which we can excite tourists from these countries and welcome them to Saudi. We are delighted to announce our partnership with IPL, because we know how important cricket is to our visitors from South Asia.
Through our partnership with IPL, we aim to increase Saudi’s presence and appeal in the Indian and South Asian markets. We are excited to show prospective South Asian visitors why they should consider Saudi not only as their next holiday destination, but also as a viable sports destination as we play host to prominent sports and entertainment events such as Formula One, WWE, and the Spanish Super Cup.”
BCCI secretary, Jay Shah said, “Over the years, we have seen the Indian Premier League emerge as a dominant force at the global stage, generating strong appeal in the sporting ecosystem. For us, it’s an exciting prospect that Saudi Tourism Authority has immense faith in the power of IPL to bring countries together. We believe that the partnership will help promote Saudi’s unique and diverse offering and position it as the leading leisure and tourism destination in the world. This partnership will create newer opportunities for cricket in Saudi and strengthen the sport in the region.”
BCCI vice president Rajeev Shukla said, “We are pleased to welcome Saudi Tourism Authority on board as an official sponsor for the 2023 edition of the IPL. The IPL partnership is a powerful channel to engage with its vast audience and support Saudi Tourism Authority’s objective of creating brand awareness in India as well as among the fans from the entire cricketing world. We hope that through this partnership, we inspire and grow the cricket fanbase in Saudi and in collaboration with STA, create exciting opportunities for them to engage with the game.”
BCCI honorary treasurer Ashish Shelar said "Our association with the Saudi Tourism Authority is a testament to the global appeal of the Indian Premier League. As each season passes by, the league has been consistently registering an uptick in its global fan base, expanding its geographical footprint. We believe this association will offer an opportunity for the sport to strengthen cricketing culture as well as the fan base in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. We are confident that this collaboration will prove to be fruitful."
Saudi Arabia is a diverse destination with numerous cultural, historical, and religious sites. Saudi recently announced that Indian visitors are eligible for the Stopover Visa, which allows passengers flying to a final destination on SAUDIA or Flynas to spend up to 96 hours in Saudi Arabia. A free hotel night on Saudia is included.
