Tourism & Hospitality | Sunday 11 January, 2015 12:17 am |

The Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) has recently got the Cabinet’s approval for the new tourism regulations which aim to streamline the facilities and services related to tourism in general and to guide their activities besides protecting tourist interests.

The new regulations also enhance the SCTA’s role in the tourism sector giving it more authority to conduct its activities.
The new system stipulates that general tourism locations such as beaches are protected sites owned by the government where the state can make direct investments for tourism development or by leasing to the private sector through auctions.

The SCTA is authorized to make suggestions for the development of any government-owned land by the private sector following the approval of the relevant authorities. The rules also authorize the SCTA to lay down criteria to regulate tourism events, and develop, support and promote them for marine, agricultural, health, medical, business or wildlife tourism and others.
The new system also accords the SCTA the authority to determine the criteria for the publication of any printed or electronic material including articles, books, maps, guide books, pictures or posters to promote tourism. It also stipulates that anyone who plans to undertake tourism services such as providing accommodation facilities, organize tours, set up tour and travel agencies, open offices for reservation and marketing of tourist accommodation or supplying tourist guide service must obtain a license from the SCTA after meeting the conditions and providing the necessary guarantees specified in the new regulations.
The regulations also permit SCTA to encourage the establishment of societies in the field of tourist shelters, trades and other tourism related activities including grading, supervising and conducting inspections besides taking penal measures against violators of the new regulations.

Additionally, businessmen dealing in tourism and tour operators will have to register all details about their employees with the SCTA and update the data every three months. It also requires all private education and training institutes that conduct tourism related programs to adhere to the standards laid down by the SCTA.
The SCTA will also have to set up a tourism data center in collaboration with the Ministry of Interior and other related departments to compile all information related to the Kingdom’s tourism sector.

All businessmen and operators in the tourism service sector will have to reorganize their services in line with the new system within a year of implementing the new system which replaces the Royal Decree on Hotels Regulations dated April 23, 1975.