Empowering Talent: Red Sea Global Celebrates Vocational Training Program Success
JEDDAH — Red Sea Global celebrated the graduation of its fourth Vocational Training Program cohort on Thursday, with 386 graduates completing courses in airport services, luxury hospitality, and health and wellness tourism operations.
The ceremony was attended by Prince Saud bin Abdullah bin Jalawi, governor of Jeddah; Abdulaziz Al‑Duailej, president of the General Authority of Civil Aviation; and Red Sea Global CEO John Pagano, along with senior executives and partner organisations.
Addressing the graduates, Pagano emphasised that the Kingdom’s tourism ambitions ultimately depend on people rather than infrastructure. “Those who came through our education and training programs are already helping bring our destinations to life,” he said.
Ahmed Ghazi Darwish, chief administrative officer and spokesman, told Arab News that more than 2,400 young Saudis have benefited from Red Sea Global’s programs since their launch, with over 1,500 graduates completing the initiatives. “These talents will play a big role in growing our new tourist destinations,” he said, noting that Vision 2030 serves as the guiding framework.
The program’s health and wellness tourism operations track — the first of its kind in the Kingdom — was developed in anticipation of AMAALA, a luxury regenerative tourism destination. Fadi Al‑Asiri, general manager of education and capacity building, said Red Sea Global continuously designs new training programs in partnership with organisations inside and outside the Kingdom based on evolving workforce needs.
Turki Al‑Jawini, director general of the Human Resources Development Fund, described the programme as a “successful national model for linking training with employment.”
Graduate Wisam Zaied, 23, said the program transformed his understanding of hospitality. “Before joining, I thought it was simply about welcoming guests and serving coffee. But during my internship, I realised hospitality is about making guests feel genuinely welcome and creating a memorable experience for them.”
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