JEDDAH, 6 July 2005 — Saudi Arabia announced yesterday that photographing in public places will be allowed except in prohibited areas. The new decision, which was revealed after a meeting of the Supreme Commission for Tourism’s (SCT) board, will be implemented within a year.
Interior Minister Prince Naif, who chaired the board meeting in Riyadh, insisted that terrorist attacks would not affect the Kingdom’s tourism industry. “My contention is that these attacks have not affected more important sectors than tourism,” he told reporters.
Prince Naif also warned those issuing religious edicts for terrorists and those financing them. “We’ll consider them as partners” in terrorist attacks, the Saudi Press Agency quoted him as saying.
Asked about harassment of foreign tourists taking pictures, Prince Naif said: “In principle, there is no ban on taking pictures but it should be in certain areas.”
Prince Sultan ibn Salman, secretary-general of the commission, said the new decision allowing photographing in public places and tourist centers would be implemented after 10 months. The nearly one year gap is to provide relevant agencies and parties enough time to make necessary preparations.
“The decision stipulates that major civilian, military and industrial institutions set out their regulations on taking photos inside their facilities while also installing boards to prohibit taking photos,” Prince Sultan said. These institutions will be given authority to deal with those who violate their regulations. However, their action will be limited to confiscation of films when a violator is found snapping shots of their facilities. More stringent measures would apply if the intent is criminal.
He said the board meeting approved the fourth phase of the national tourism development project. The meeting also endorsed the tourism development strategies for Riyadh, Madinah, Asir, Baha and Jizan regions as well as the strategy and executive plan for the antiquities and museums sector. It also approved the results of surveys on tourist sites in Madinah, Eastern Province, Qasim and Al-Jouf regions.
