SCTA to develop Islamic historical sites

Islamic historical sites will receive better care and maintenance, especially the sites that are related to the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) biography.
The Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities’ advisory committee has discussed details of a program to this end, in accordance with the directives of the Saudi leadership.
The committee also discussed a new law related to antiquities, museums and urban heritage, which the Shoura Council has approved. This would help the SCTA to preserve and develop antiquities and heritage sites across the Kingdom.
The meeting reviewed a report on the 1st Conference of Antiquities and Tourism in Al-Ula, which was organized by Taibah University at its branch in Al-Ula in collaboration with SCTA.
The committee reviewed the exhibition of the “Saudi Archaeological Masterpieces Through the Ages” that has been held at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington. The exhibition drew 700,000 visitors, including 90,000 who visited the exhibition avenue and 600,000 visited the exhibition’s special website.
The committee praised the efforts exerted for the development of private museums in addition to applying a number of standards and conditions aimed at developing museum shows. It disclosed plans to hold another gathering for private museum owners in Madinah.
Prince Sultan bin Salman, president of SCTA, chaired the committee’s meeting at the King Abdul Aziz Historical Center in Riyadh. He commended Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah for the great attention given by the government to national urban heritage development projects. The committee also praised Crown Prince Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense, for inaugurating festivities marking the selection of Madinah as the Capital of Islamic Culture for 2013.
The executive committee of Al-Ahsa Tourism Development Council met with the executive committee of Souk Okaz. The Executive Director of SCTA in Al-Ahsa, Ali Al-Haji, emphasized importance of exchanging experience between the two national festivals, the Hajr and Okaz festivals. Al-Haji further referred to the importance of professional work for the development of tourism.
Al-Ahsa Mayor Fahd bin Mohammad Al-Jubair, who is deputy chairman of the executive committee, emphasized the need to twin Souk Hajr and Souk Okaz. He said the SCTA has made tremendous efforts for reviving domestic tourism through holding different types of festivals across the Kingdom.