UNE presents to SASO the standards involving Spain's tourism model

The Spanish Association for Standardization, UNE, hosted a study visit on 9 and 10 December by Mshari Al-Salah, Director of Service Standardization at SASO (Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization), the standardization body of Saudi Arabia. This visit is part of the Memorandum of Understanding that the two organizations signed to enhance collaboration in areas of interest to both countries. In recent years, UNE has worked with SASO on an ambitious project to review Saudi Arabia's quality infrastructure. In July 2023, both organizations, together with representatives from the Spanish business sector, held a high-level meeting in Madrid aimed at fostering bilateral trade relations and facilitating access for Spanish companies to the Saudi market. Saudi Arabia is currently implementing Saudi Vision 2030, a strategic framework to reduce its reliance on oil and diversify its economy by focusing on new sectors such as tourism. The purpose of Mr Al-Salah's study visit was to gain a deeper understanding of the Spanish tourism model and the significant role UNE standards play in its success. Spain continues to be a global benchmark in tourism competitiveness, as well as the world's second-largest tourist destination in terms of both international arrivals and tourism revenue. The firm commitment to quality and sustainability through the application of 60 UNE standards in tourism has been key to maintaining this international leadership. UNE is also a leader in tourism standardization, coordinating international committee ISO/TC 228 on Tourism and Related Services, in which more than 100 countries participate. During the visit, Mr Al-Salah held meetings with the Spanish Institute for Tourism Quality and Sustainability (ICTES), which emphasized the trust instilled in the tourism model by independent third-party certification based on public standards. He also met with the Spanish Confederation of Business Organizations (CEOE), which conveyed the needs of businesses and the challenges facing the tourism sector, such as regulation, personalization of the customer experience, and sustainability. Additionally, he met with the certification body AENOR. The visit also provided an opportunity to delve into two key subsectors for the development of tourism in Saudi Arabia, particularly around the Red Sea: diving, through a meeting with the Spanish Association for Recreational Diving (ABRE), and nautical tourism, through a meeting with the National Association of Nautical Companies (ANEN). Strategic aspects were also addressed during the programme through meetings with the Secretariat of State for Tourism, SEGITTUR, and Turespaña. Finally, as a practical example, thanks to esMadrid, a visit was made to the Plaza Mayor Tourism Center, which is certified under UNE-ISO 14785 for Tourist Information Offices.