RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s ambitious Red Sea tourist destination in the northwest of the Kingdom has welcomed its first guests. A VIP delegation of Saudi ministers and other leaders landed at the new Red Sea International Airport on Wednesday aboard a specially liveried Saudia flight from Riyadh. The flight number was SV2030, in a nod to the project’s significance for the Kingdom’s Vision 2030. Located in Hanak in the northwestern region of Tabuk, RSI — short name for the airport — was specially designed to serve the Kingdoms The Red Sea Development and Amaala tourism megaprojects. The airport commenced operations on September 21, 2023, and is expected to service one million passengers by 2030. The inaugural visitors toured the destination, including a stop at the St. Regis Red Sea Resort, which is now open for bookings to welcome guests before the end of the year. They were shown the experiences on offer for guests, including watersports, diving and inland adventure. The guests stayed at Six Senses Southern Dunes, the first hotel to open at the destination. Six Senses offers Spa & Wellness facilities, as well as an outdoor temperature-controlled pool and private pool villas.  (Photo Courtesy: SixSenses.com) “Getting to this moment has required great support from our partners across the Kingdom. It is an honor to be able to show our gratitude by hosting them on this exclusive visit,” Red Sea Global chief executive John Pagano said. “Now, with our airport receiving a regular schedule of flights and first resorts taking bookings, it’s only a matter of time before the rest of the world discovers just how special the Saudi Red Sea coast is.” Some of the rooms at Six Senses Southern Dunes offer a view of Tabuk regions breath-taking landscape that includes volcanic craters, mountains, and archeological jewels. (Photo Courtesy: SixSenses.com) Red Sea Global also celebrated the launch of Fly Red Sea, the Kingdom’s first seaplane company. A fleet of four Cessna Caravan 208 seaplanes will transport guests to The Red Sea’s island resorts, flying on sustainable aviation fuel. “As a pilot myself, I was deeply invested in the efforts to build Fly Red Sea,” Pagano said. “Our goal was to create a company that would … explore technologies to reduce the aviation industry’s carbon footprint, and prioritize giving skilled, rewarding career opportunities to the Saudi people.” Today, we celebrate the take-off of Fly Red Sea! The first seaplane company to be launched in the Kingdom, our latest subsidiary will transport guests across #TheRedSea and offer breathtaking tours across @VisitRedSea . Read more: https://t.co/zKoh8SnyZO pic.twitter.com/jnSLKFRM9T — Red Sea Global (@RedSeaGlobal) October 11, 2023