The World Centre of Excellence for Destinations (CED) announced today the presentation of the official System of Measures for Excellence in Destinations (SMED) report to Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
OFFICIAL SMED REPORT PRESENTED TO JEDDAH, KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA
This event was held in the presence of Mr. Mohammed A. Al-Amri, Executive Manager, Makkah Region, Saudi Commission of Tourism & Antiquities, as well as Dr. François Bédard, Director General of the CED. Also present at this event, thirty-five representatives of stakeholders from both public and private tourism sectors in Jeddah.
“Jeddah is the first destination in the Middle East to recognize the value of a measurement system like the SMED and sign a partnership agreement with the CED. The Saudi authorities will set up a working group whose objective will be to implement the recommendations made in the official SMED report”, said Dr. Bédard.
“For a popular tourist destination such as Jeddah, it is very important to receive a diagnosis like that of the SMED. Jeddah has a vibrant tourism industry and many tourist attractions that make it a perfect destination for families and leisure tourists from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf area" added Mr. Mohammed A. Al-Amri.
The SMED is an evaluation tool developed by the CED which aims to identify the different levels of performance of a tourist destination, propose recommendations for improvement and increased competitiveness, and facilitate the integration of the destination in an international network of tourist destinations of excellence.
Based in Montréal, Québec, Canada, the CED has signed partnership agreements with Canada Economic Development for the Quebec regions, the Ministère du Tourisme du Québec and the Ministère des Affaires Municipales et des Régions du Québec.
About the CED
The CED began operations in February 2007. The CED is a non-profit organization dedicated to the research and creation of tools to support the development of sustainable tourism for destinations around the world. The CED was created with the support of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the National Geographic Society. For further information, please visit the CED website at: www.ced.travel
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Source: World Centre of Excellence for Destinations (CED)
Information: Dr. François Bédard, Director General – CED
Media: Nathalie Laberinto, World Centre of Excellence for Destinations (CED)
(+1) 514-871-1115 (ext. 226)
- - Mr. Mohammed A. Al-Amri, Executive Manager - Makkah Region, Saudi Commission for Tourism & Antiquities;
- - Mr. François Bédard, Director CIFORT and CED;
- - Mr. Osama Saeed Al-Khalawee - General Director, General Directorate of Tourism Sites Development, Saudi Commission for Tourism & Antiquities.
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