Prince Abdullah bin Saud, chairman of the Board of Directors of Al-Ahlam Holding Group, signed a contract with Fahad S. Al-Ghamdi, general director of the Eijazati Saudi program.

The agreement was signed in the presence of Mohammed Abdullah Al-Amri, director general of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (Makkah branch); Rustom M. Kubaisi, executive manager of SCTA in Jazan region; Faisal Madani, executive manager of SCTA in Madinah; and a number of dignitaries.

Speaking on the sidelines of the signing ceremony, Prince Abdullah bin Saud said its the duty and responsibility of Saudi nationals and businessmen to come forward and promote domestic tourism.

“Today I signed the agreement as the main sponsor for the ‘Eijazati Saudi’ program in its third edition, to enhance and develop the Kingdom’s domestic tourism. This program redefines our country’s tourism and highlights our cultural riches,” he said.

He added that the move comes within the vision of Prince Sultan bin Salman, president of the SCTA, toward the development of national tourism.

Meanwhile, Al-Ghamdi thanked Prince Abdullah and Prince Sultan bin Salman, for their continuous support for Eijazati Saudi program. He explained that the main purpose of the program is to revitalize domestic tourism and encourage Saudi youth and families to visit the Kingdom’s various historic sites and cities.

In this edition of Eijazati Saudi program, the organizers are planning on introducing a new contest, whereby participants have to visit different parts of the Kingdom, take pictures, write down their experience and then submit it on the program’s website (www.ejaztisaudia.com). Winners of the contest will be awarded prizes.

The participants’ journals and pictures will be shared on various social media sites.

Participants can begin submitting what they encounter during their visits of Jazan, Jeddah and Yanbu beginning Jan. 18.

Al-Amri stressed on the importance of cooperation between tour operators and Saudi families.

“Young Saudi males over 21 years old are encouraged to join Saudi Tourism; we will train them and those who pass the exam will become licensed tourism guides,” he said.

Al-Amri also explained that the program organizers have appointed supervisors to ensure fair pricing and urged those who encounter breaches in pricing policies to report back to the commission.