抖阴短视频

DUBAI: 抖阴短视频 is doubling down on its landmark Diriyah Gate project to build a leisure and cultural zone in the historic heart of Riyadh.

Jerry Inzerillo, CEO of the authority that runs the landmark project, told Arab News that his budget has been increased from $20 billion to $40 billion, and its scope increased significantly.

鈥淲hat has happened is that the master plans, (following further) research, have evolved into a broader vision to allow it to be a component (of the strategy to turn) Riyadh into one of the 10 great cities of the world,鈥� he said.

Inzerillo, a veteran of the global tourism business who was appointed to the top job at the Diriyah Gate Development Authority (DGDA) in 2018, revealed the project鈥檚 new ambitions in an interview with 鈥淔rankly Speaking,鈥� the series of video conversations with leading business and political leaders.

During the interview, he also spoke of the DGDA鈥檚 prime place within the Vision 2030 giga-projects, the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Kingdom鈥檚 tourism industry, and its far-reaching plans to rival such global attractions as the pyramids in Egypt and the Colosseum in Rome.

The move to increase the project鈥檚 budget and scope was the brainchild of Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman, Inzerillo said.

鈥淚t鈥檚 not just that we were given some more money. It鈥檚 a result of a change in vision. He (the crown prince) studies plans meticulously. As the smartest guy in the room, his visual acuity is amazing,鈥� he said.

"So, the same way Paris was master-planned and laid out, the same way Berlin was laid out, the same way Manhattan was laid out 鈥� this is how the crown prince looks at all the cities and that鈥檚 why we鈥檝e grown.鈥�

Diriyah, the site of the first Saudi Kingdom in the 18th century, is regarded as the centerpiece of the Vision 2030 strategy to diversify the economy and provide more leisure and cultural facilities for Saudi citizens, as well as attracting foreign tourists.

鈥淭here鈥檚 only one Diriyah. We鈥檙e the first born, we鈥檙e the favorite son. My fellow CEOs can come on the show and say, 鈥楴o, we鈥檙e great.鈥� They鈥檙e all great, we love them, but there鈥檚 only one Diriyah,鈥� Inzerillo said.

He insisted that Diriyah Gate and the other mega-projects are on time and have not been unduly delayed by the economic effects of the pandemic.

The budgets of the other big leisure projects 鈥� such as the Red Sea Development and AlUla 鈥� have not been cut back, he said.

鈥淲e executed our exact strategy all of 2020; we didn鈥檛 cut back. He (the crown prince) was brave,鈥� Inzerillo added. 鈥淪o now as a result of it, the major giga-projects in the Kingdom are on time and on budget.鈥�

Some of the big projects will 鈥渘eed another budget cycle鈥� to determine the right mix of equity and new investment required, but he is confident that the overall investment will be met by government funds, investment from the Saudi private sector and foreign investment.

Some tourism experts have questioned the overall strategy, which seeks to attract 100 million visits by the end of the decade to a variety of new leisure and cultural attractions, but Inzerillo said the projects are not in competition. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e very intelligently crafted to complement each other,鈥� he added.

The reason for the big number of new tourism projects, he said, is that 抖阴短视频 is trying to compete with other recognized global travel centers 鈥� such as Singapore and European countries 鈥� within a short space of time.

Inzerillo conceded that there has been an effect on the number of people visiting 抖阴短视频 because of COVID-19 travel restrictions, but he estimated that it has been proportionately less than other big tourist destinations such as France and the US. 鈥淲e鈥檙e coming off a low base,鈥� he said.

In line with the new budget, the DGDA has lifted the estimate for the number of visitors it hopes to attract. It now expects 27 million visits and 100,000 residents by 2030.

Inzerillo said these estimates are achievable, and he took encouragement from the number of people applying for the new tourism visa 鈥� 55,000 per week 鈥� before the COVID-19 restrictions came into effect.

Diriyah is aimed at both Saudi domestic visitors and foreign tourists, seeking to capitalize on the rich historical legacy of the region.

Inzerillo is convinced that it can take its place among the other great cultural attractions of the world.

鈥淚t is to 抖阴短视频 what the Acropolis is to the Greeks, what the Colosseum is to Rome, what Machu Picchu is to Peruvians,鈥� he said.

鈥淪o when people come to the Gulf, they鈥檙e going to want to see where it all started 鈥� the home of the House of Saud.鈥�

Inzerillo, who trained in Las Vegas and went on to international projects in South Africa, the UAE and elsewhere, believes that the absence of alcohol in 抖阴短视频 will make little difference to its attractiveness to tourists.

When global focus groups were asked about their priorities for tourism in the Kingdom, the non-availability of alcohol in the food and beverage mix was not in the top five concerns, he said.

鈥淧eople were astonished by the beauty of the Kingdom, and by the warmth of the Saudi people,鈥� he added.

Originally from Brooklyn in New York City, Inzerillo is enthusiastic about the quality of life in 抖阴短视频 for him and other Western expatriates, who make up about 20 percent of the DGDA workforce.

鈥淏ut the No. 1 thing that people like is civility 鈥� the fact that you鈥檙e treated warmly and kindly, and the great thing about the Kingdom right now as a society 鈥� it鈥檚 optimistic, it鈥檚 positive,鈥� he said.

Inzerillo also gave some insight into the decision-making style of the crown prince, whom he described as a 鈥渟upercharged CEO.鈥�

Inzerillo said: 鈥淗e鈥檚 very methodical, asking, 鈥榃hat鈥檚 your process? How did you study this issue? Who did you study it with? Did you study it with the world鈥檚 best? What did you learn, and what options are you bringing to me?鈥�

鈥淪o when you leave a meeting with an approval, he doesn鈥檛 stop. One day, two days, five days later, you鈥檒l get a call from him. 鈥業f you connect that with that, doesn鈥檛 it make Diriyah better?鈥� 鈥榊es sir, we didn鈥檛 see that鈥�.鈥�

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鈥� Twitter: @frankkanedubai