Photo : Collected

DHAKA, Sept 2, 2025 (BSS) – Saudi Arabia has launched a new global tourism campaign starring football icon Cristiano Ronaldo, highlighting the Kingdom’s ambition to emerge as a year-round hub for sports, culture and entertainment, with South Asia — including Bangladesh — seen as a key growth market.

The campaign, titled “I Came for Football, I Stayed for More”, was unveiled by the Saudi Tourism Authority (STA) under its “Saudi, Welcome to Arabia” brand. 

It showcases the country’s vibrant calendar of international sports, fashion, film and cultural events across Riyadh, Jeddah and AlUla.

Tourism Minister Ahmed Al Khateeb said Saudi is cementing its place as a global destination by blending cultural authenticity, warm hospitality and world-class events. 

STA CEO Fahd Hamidaddin added that the Kingdom is on track to reach its target of 150 million annual visitors by 2030, with more than 100 major international events already hosted since 2018.

Football superstar Ronaldo, now a resident of Saudi Arabia, praised the Kingdom’s growing stature as a global sports hub. “This is where the future of sport is being written,” he said.

Saudi Arabia has committed $800 billion to its tourism sector under Vision 2030, with projections showing the industry will reach $22.4 billion in market value and contribute $16.5 billion to GDP by 2030.

For Bangladesh, where millions of citizens travel to the Kingdom annually for work, pilgrimage and leisure, the expanded tourism offerings open new opportunities for cultural exchange, event tourism and diversified travel experiences. 

The campaign is expected to encourage more Bangladeshi travelers, particularly sports and entertainment enthusiasts, to explore Saudi beyond traditional destinations like Makkah and Madinah.