With summer around the corner, the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) recently organized several events around the country to boost domestic tourism and create jobs for Saudis.

The SCTA recently ran a workshop to highlight its development program, known as “Ta’heel,” in collaboration with the World Tourism Organization, which concluded last Thursday. The workshop looked at ways to improve services in the industry.

The SCTA is also launching several summer holiday festivals nationwide to boost domestic tourism and attract foreign visitors. The organization has already rehabilitated and opened 160 projects.

The SCTA’s program aims to provide quality facilities and services, such as road networks, parking lots, footpaths, shaded sitting areas, signboards, reception centers, toilets, and shops.

The plan includes creating jobs in local communities, especially for young people as tour guides, security guards and artisans for seasonal functions.

Salah Al-Bahkeet, vice president of the SCTA and executive supervisor of the Ta’heel program, stated in a press release that the organization was committed to supporting tourism and heritage projects in the country.

“We are very proud of our partners and consider them leaders in the tourism industry. We are creating a bright future for tourism in the Kingdom,” he said.

Omar Valdez, executive director of the World Tourism Organization, praised the SCTA’s efforts to promote tourism in the Kingdom.

Valdez said the aim of the program was to highlight how other countries have successfully grown their tourism industries. It also looked at the importance of the private sector, marketing, developing tourism products, and funding of projects.

The 160 rehabilitated sites in the country include Moneekh Mountain in Al-Majm’a, Samha Well in Al-Kharj, Aba Al-Gud route and Al-Galta in Al-Ghat in Riyadh, and the Falcon Event Center and Al-Ain Al-Hara (Hot Well) in Hafr Al-Batin in the Eastern Province.

The other sites include Al-Fagwah beach, Al-Qusar Village, Fursan Anchorage and Jazan Anchorage in the Jazan province, Al-Laith Beach, Al-Qunfudah beach in Makkah province, and Al-Shabeyah Village in Al-Shanana and Al-Rus Park in Al-Qaseem.