Saudi tourism commission ramps up regulation
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The Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) has invited its counterparts in different government authorities to collaborate with tourist guides who are officially licensed by SCTA in their official tourism trips inside the Kingdom, either for their affiliates or for their foreign visitors.The president of SCTA, HRH Prince Sultan Bin Salman, stated in a message sent to a number of government officials that SCTA issued 71 licenses of tour operators, after comprehensive training. These efforts mainly aim at providing distinct tourism services to domestic tourists, especially to foreign expats by the licensed tourist guides. Prince Salman pointed out that the request to engage accredited trip organisers is part of protecting tourists from some individuals and authorities who are not licensed and yet still practice in the Kingdom.The SCTA has been taking important steps towards regulating the Saudi tourism sector in recent months.In collaboration with the Makkah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), the SCTA recently began classifiying hotels, furnished flats, and residential units, in accordance with the directives of Prince Salman. The involvement of MCCI in this context aimed to enhance the partnership with relevant authorities in the accommodation sector. In Makkah, 37 hotels have received a five star rating, while pricing resolutions for the same category were 36. SCTA issued classification certificates to 13 hotels under the four-star category, followed by eight price resolutions for the same category. Also, 45 classification certificates were issued at the three-star category, followed by 43 price resolutions. Sixty-nine classification certificates and 64 price resolutions were issued in the two-star category.
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