RIYADH, 19 July 2007 — The Supreme Commission for Tourism (SCT) has announced plans to build a full-fledged tourism information center and establish three new tourism projects along the Red Sea coast this year, a senior official from SCT announced yesterday.

“We aim to establish a complete information center, which would benefit tourists and tourism organizers,” said SCT Secretary-General Prince Sultan bin Salman, adding that a deal had been signed with the Municipal and Rural Affairs Ministry to establish a company to develop the Al-Oqair shore in the Al-Ahsa region.

“There will be small and medium investment opportunities in the Al-Oqair projects through the ministry. As for the projects along the Red Sea coast, that will take place later this year,” he said.

Prince Sultan said that currently the toll-free tourism telephone number in the Kingdom has been linked with tourism information centers at airports and markets. The prince added that the aim of the future tourism projects was to invest in Saudi tourists — not foreign tourists. “SCT’s focus is on local tourism. The tourist we are targeting is the local tourist, who travels abroad,” he said.

He mentioned that focusing on local tourists had its economical benefits as well in addition to it being a national duty. “The Saudi citizen today spends generously. We will not forsake him easily,” he said.

Prince Sultan said the SCT aimed to structure local tourism in the Kingdom in a way that is suitable to its culture and traditions and one that reflects on the positive image of Saudi Arabia.

He mentioned that while focusing on domestic tourism, the commission had already begun investing in huge tourism projects such as developing museums, culture villages, tourist attractions, rest areas, as well as developing human resources.

“Tourism is one of the three most important economic areas for helping the national economy. And it is the first in terms of providing jobs,” Prince Sultan said.

The secretary-general admitted that there was still much to be done in developing tourist attractions in Saudi Arabia, adding that once the SCT has succeeded in developing huge tourism projects, domestic tourism would take off in a big way.

“The Kingdom is one of the most beautiful countries in the world. Today only 19 percent of local tourists travel abroad. Over 80 percent of tourist attractions are yet to be developed,” he said.

He mentioned that the number of local tourists favoring domestic destinations this summer was high compared to previous years, adding that many local tourists were enjoying tourist festivals established in several of the Kingdom’s cities.

In another development, officials at the 28th Taiba Festival in Madinah organized by SCT announced that the camel caravan, which is part of the festival’s highlights this year, had crossed more than 200 km along many of Madinah’s roads.