Globetrender’s second season of Blue Sky Thinking deep dives into the future of tourism in Saudi through the lens of Red Sea Global, the developer responsible for redefining the Kingdom as a luxury travel destination.
Globetrender has dropped the second season of its podcast Blue Sky Thinking, which takes listeners on a conversational journey with the innovators and visionaries shaping the future of travel.
Hosted by Globetrender editor, founder and CEO Jenny Southan, season two has been sponsored by Red Sea Global (RSG), the Saudi developer responsible for redefining Saudi Arabia as a luxury travel destination.
This special series explores the future of tourism in the Kingdom through the lens of Red Sea Global, and the ways in which the developer is creating a new blueprint for the travel industry.
“The ultimate ‘blue sky thinker’, by 2030, Saudi Arabia wants to become one of the world’s most popular and luxurious places to go on holiday. To help illuminate people’s understanding of the trajectory this country is on, Globetrender partnered with Saudi developer Red Sea Global to produce this special season of our Blue Sky Thinking podcast, in which we delve deep into the ambitions it has to spearhead regenerative, zero-carbon and accessible tourism,” says Southan.
The six-episode season includes interviews with a diverse selection of Red Sea Global team members across key sectors, from sustainability and marine regeneration to accessibility for disabled travellers and gender equality.
Southan says: “Saudi Arabia is an emerging destination that international travellers are just starting to consider for vacations. In fact, it only began issuing tourist visas in 2019 and set up its first tourism board in 2020. Since then change has seemingly come fast. Women now have more freedom than ever before – they can work, drive, travel unescorted and don’t have to cover their hair – and almost every major luxury hotel brand has committed to opening properties in The Red Sea and AMAALA destinations.”
Spotlight episodes include conversations with John Pagano, Red Sea Global Group CEO, on Saudi’s vision for the future of luxury tourism; Raed Albasseet, Group Chief Environment and Sustainability Officer for Red Sea Global on creating a destination powered by renewable energy; and Rosanna Chopra, Executive Director – Destination Development for Red Sea Global, on designing the world’s most accessible tourism destination.
Pagano says: “By partnering with Globetrender on its Blue Sky Thinking podcast, we hope to share our vision for regenerative tourism with a wide-reaching audience of travel experts and enthusiasts, and inspire others in the industry to embrace responsible development and environmental stewardship.”
Southan says: “Although complete Western-style liberalisation is not necessarily a goal for Saudi, laws are beginning to relax, leading, for example, to the opening of the country’s first liquor store in Riyadh in early 2024. Whatever critics might say, at Globetrender we believe in the importance of optimism, openness and conversation in bringing cultures closer together. Nothing positive can be achieved in a polarised world when people are isolated from one another.”
BLUE SKY THINKING SEASON TWO EPISODES:
1. John Pagano, Group Chief Executive Officer for Red Sea Global, on Saudi’s vision for the future of luxury tourism
Since 2018, John Pagano has led Red Sea Global’s growth from the ground up, with the aim of creating high-end regenerative tourism destinations that will help diversify Saudi Arabia’s economy away from oil.
In this episode we hear why the country has decided to open up to international travel; what makes its new Red Sea airport so special; and what lies ahead for the emerging resort enclaves of The Red Sea and AMAALA destinations.
2. Raed Albasseet, Group Chief Environment and Sustainability Officer for Red Sea Global, on creating a destination powered by renewables.
Raed Albasseet is a key driving force behind Red Sea Global’s desire to create a new tourism paradigm, one that is built on the principle of harmonising high-end tourism with environmental care and the inclusion of local Saudis.
In this episode we learn how the company is creating a regenerative destination; why solar power is better than oil; and the implications of building the country’s largest off-grid electric car charging network.
3. Prof. Carlos Duarte, Ibn Sina Distinguished Professor of Marine Science at KAUST and Advisory Board Member at Red Sea Global, on regenerating oceanic ecosystems
One of the world’s top climate scientists, Dr Carlos Duarte is drawing on his 40 years of experience as a marine ecologist and scientific diver to guide Red Sea Global in building resorts that function harmoniously with the sea.
In this episode we hear how the company is working to nurture vital ecosystems such as coral and mangroves; protect the Red Sea’s island archipelago from rising sea levels; and design a blueprint for regenerative tourism.
4. Rosanna Chopra, Executive Director – Destination Development for Red Sea Global, on designing the world’s most accessible tourism destination
The mother of a disabled child, Rosanna Chopra knows first-hand the value of a happy family vacation, which is why she is determined to help Red Sea Global create the world’s most accessible tourism destination.
Even though 1.3 billion people (or one in six of us) globally experience a “significant disability”, travel remains incredibly difficult for most because accessible design is not commonplace or seamless.
However, Red Sea Global is pledging to build accessibility from the ground up in the destinations of The Red Sea and AMAALA, enabling people of every ability to experience therapeutic retreats, and benefit from adaptive equipment for watersports.
5. Zainab Hamidaddin, Executive Director of Employee Engagement and HR Business Partners for Red Sea Global, on travelling as a woman in Saudi Arabia
Zainab Hamidaddin speaks about how gender equality has changed in Saudi Arabia over recent years, as well as what it’s like to explore the country as a solo female traveller, and why the burgeoning local tourism sector offers unique opportunities for women.
6. Julie Audette, Senior Director of Destination Marketing for AMAALA, on rebranding Saudi Arabia as a vacation paradise
Julie Audette shares the secrets to great destination marketing strategy; how to create a buzz through engaging media content; and the realities of hosting press trips to a country that only opened up to international tourism a few years ago.