“The SCTA has noticed that hotels and apartments have been charging service fees alongside their normal charges. The violators will be punished in accordance with our regulations,” the commission’s Director General of Licensing and Quality Ahmad Al-Isa told Arab News.

The circular also reminded hotel managements that they should adhere to the rates fixed for each class of accommodation. Hotels and other tourist lodging facilities have been classified in different categories on the basis of the level of services they offer.

The SCTA has been striving to regulate the hospitality sector in order to ensure the Saudi tourism industry is able to compete with those of other countries.

“The SCTA wants to assure Saudi tourists that the Kingdom’s hospitality industry is not inferior to the services in any other countries,” Al-Isa said. The commission’s Director of Monitoring Omar Al-Mubarak said inspectors would be visiting hotels and other facilities in order to ensure establishments are strictly following all regulations, including those monitoring hygiene and safety.

Establishments operating without SCTA licenses will be closed down. Hotels should also maintain the standard of service specified by the commission according to their grades. He added that the SCTA wanted to protect the interests of all parties including investors, tourists and locals.

When the quality of service improves, the industry will grow, attracting more investment that will in turn provide more employment opportunities to the local people, Al-Mubarak said.

He said a fine of SR10,000 would be imposed on anyone who operated unlicensed facilities. The hotels of those who obstruct the work of investigators or those who repeatedly violate regulations would be closed down, he said.

Commission officials have already started inspecting hotels and apartments to make sure they are licensed and adhere to regulations.

Any tourist who notices a violation can complain to the SCTA by calling 018808855 during office hours and 8007550000 after office hours or visit www.scta.gov.sa.

Meanwhile, plans are under way to organize 26 tourism festivals in various parts of the Kingdom during this summer, the SCTA said on Tuesday. “The festivities will include hundreds of recreational, social, cultural and sports activities,” said Abdullah Al-Johani, vice chairman for marketing and information. SCTA will hold a press conference on Sunday to highlight the tourism festivals.

Prince Sultan bin Salman, chairman of SCTA, said his organization would emphasize the cultural dimension of the Kingdom’s heritage. “The SCTA has taken up the responsibility of enlightening citizens about the national and architectural heritage,” the prince said while opening a workshop in Riyadh for the commission’s executive directors.