The Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) has detected about 279 violations in several tourism activities this year, 29 of which have been investigated. This brings the total number of violations to 11,956 in three years beginning Aug. 25, 2010 to 2013 following the administration shift from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to the SCTA.

The SCTA’s Department of Licensing and Quality Assurance recently released a report which said 3,521 violators responded to the commission’s action and visited its branches to settle their cases.

The report indicated that most of the violations detected in the last three months were with regard to operating accommodation facilities without licenses. The number of violations in this sector included 205 furnished apartments and 18 hotels.

The report also said that the tour operators’ sector had only one violation up to January this year. Travel and tourism agencies registered 10 violations where the total number of violations reached 604.