RIYADH: The Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) has announced the establishment of 15 regional tourism councils in different provinces of the Kingdom in an effort to decentralize the SCTA’s operations and to ensure access to world-class tourism services for domestic and international visitors.
“A total of 14 tourism councils, which have already become functional, will organize and take over 70 percent of the regional travel and tourism activities by 2010,” SCTA Chairman Prince Sultan bin Salman said here on Sunday.
Prince Sultan was speaking after witnessing the signing ceremony between the SCTA and its private sector partners who have pledged to sponsor the high profile Saudi Travel and Tourism Investment Market 2009 (STTIM). The five-day event, dubbed as the “flagship event for tourism industry” by Prince Sultan, will be organized with the support of Riyadh Gov. Prince Salman. On behalf of SCTA, Abdullah S. Al-Jehani, vice president for marketing and media affairs, signed the sponsorship agreements.
Prince Sultan said the tourism councils would function in cooperation with the respective regional government agencies and private partners. He said one more regional council in the northern part of Saudi Arabia would be set up soon.
“The councils will be delegated with the powers to issue licenses, take decisions to develop sites and carry out other works related to tourism industry,” said the SCTA chief, while thanking the private companies that have come forward to support STTIM 2009.
Senior executives from 15 private companies inked agreements to support the event. On behalf of Saudi Research and Marketing Group (SRMG), Tarik A. Algain, SRMG’s executive vice president, signed the sponsorship agreement with SCTA. Other sponsoring organizations include Saudia, Al Arabiya, MBC, SAPTCO, Sixth Car Rental, Abdul Lateef Jameel Co., Jabal Omar Development Co., EMS, ELAF, Jeddah Hilton and Qasar Al-Sharq and Arriyadh Development Co.
Al-Attas Soutak, SAFWA, Dream Divers, Al-Ahlam Marina Tourism, Al-Tayyar, Al-Hokair Group and Al-Hiya Litatweer Madinat Al-Riyadh have also come forward to support the event. Several government agencies and institutions have also pledged to lend support to the SCTA in hosting the STTIM.
Addressing a press conference after the signing ceremony, Prince Sultan said the STTIM seeks to develop the tourism industry in the Kingdom in relation to accommodation, services and investment opportunities.
Al-Jehani said the STTIM is a major initiative to support and promote investments in tourism sector.
“This event will, henceforth, become one of the most important annual tourism events in the Kingdom,” said Al-Jehani. He pointed out that a number of local and international experts including, Taleb Rifai, general secretary of World Tourism Council, have been invited to address the forum.
