RIYADH, 25 September 2007 — In a no-holds barred discussion with Shoura Council members, Prince Sultan ibn Salman, secretary-general of the Supreme Commission for Tourism (STC), denied that Saudi Arabia’s aim to promote tourism would have a negative effect on the Kingdom’s culture and traditions.
“There is no concern for the Kingdom from tourism,” Prince Sultan told the 150-member council yesterday.
The prince assured Shoura members that the Kingdom’s tourism sector was moving “according to a strategic vision and regulations,” stressing at the same time that “nothing has come out from tourism which causes alarm.”
According to Prince Sultan, the STC is currently focusing on local tourists rather than on foreign tourists coming to the Kingdom. The aim is to keep the money spent abroad each summer.
“Promoting tourism is tool. The primary objective is to preserve the money that is spent abroad,” he said.
Prince Sultan denied that the Kingdom was an alienated nation. “Saudi Arabia has never been a country alienated from others,” he said.
However, when asked by Shoura members whether there was an initiative to Saudize the tourism sector, the prince ruled out a mass Saudization scheme, saying that it was important to benefit from the experiences of other nations in tourism.
“The tourism infrastructure has not been completed yet. But you will see what will please you within two years,” he assured the Shoura members.
The tourism sector, according to Prince Sultan, has now turned into “an industry”. He said that new tourism colleges established all over the Kingdom would prepare future generations to take their part in promoting tourism in the country.
According to Prince Sultan, only 19 percent of local tourists travel abroad. He also said that over 80 percent of tourist attractions have yet to be developed in the Kingdom.
When asked by Shoura member Abdullah Dahlan about the absence of cinemas and theaters in Saudi Arabia and the positive effect movie theaters would have on tourism, the prince said the matter concerned the Ministry of Culture and Information and not the STC.
Answering a question by Shoura member Rashed Al-Katheeri about using Al-Janadriya Cutural Festival for tourism throughout the year, Prince Sultan said the matter was under study.
Currently the annual festival is open only for a period of two weeks, which limits the scope for attendance by foreigners and expatriate residents.
Prince Sultan also assured Shoura members that the STC would deal firmly with persons or establishments that destroy historical sites in the Kingdom. He said that according to new directives, no site in Saudi Arabia with historical value could be destroyed or harmed without first consulting the STC. For example, a historically relevant site can no longer be razed or excavated for development purposes.
In previous comments made to the press, Prince Sultan mentioned that the number of local tourists favoring domestic destinations this summer was high compared to previous years.
He added that many local tourists were enjoying tourist festivals established in several of the Kingdom’s cities.
The secretary-general admitted that there was still much to be done in developing tourist attractions in Saudi Arabia. Once the SCT has succeeded in developing huge tourism projects, domestic tourism would take off in a big way, he added.
