In a step towards providing an attractive environment for investment in Saudi tourism that takes into account ease of business, innovation, and sustainability, the Saudi Ministry of Tourism issued on Sunday 10 updated regulations concerned with developing the sector and keeping pace with the renaissance in the Kingdom.
The newly adopted Saudi measures aim to improve the quality of services provided and protect the rights of tourists, in addition to supporting the tourism sector and increasing job opportunities.
The updated regulations cover tourism hospitality facilities, travel and tourism services, guidance, and the management of tourism hospitality facilities.
The regulations also included consultations, a private tourist hospitality facility, experimental activities, inspection of activities, and committees to consider system violations. They also included tourist destinations.
Ahmed Al-Khatib, Saudi Minister of Tourism, explained that the revised regulations come as a continuation of the steps that the Ministry of Tourism is working on to achieve the goals of the general strategy for the development of national tourism, and allow the ministry to enhance cooperation with the private sector and provide job opportunities for national competencies in the sector.
Al-Khatib indicated that the regulations issued based on the system included provisions for regulating tourism activities of all kinds, and added new activities to the market and provisions for regulating control and inspection.
“These regulations related to tourism were prepared in accordance with the most effective international practice,” he said.
These were selected based on the index of the top 10 countries in the competitiveness of tourism and travel, issued by the World Economic Forum. They fall in line with the government’s directives to build a globally competitive sector.
He referred to the unlimited support and keen interest that the sector receives from the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and his crown prince. This is given that investment in tourism is one of the pillars of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.
The Ministry gave dealers in the tourism sector a period of 90 days to adjust their conditions in line with the updated requirements and standards. This is because tourism services are provided through a variety of activities, categories, and types.
