The Ministry of Economy & Planning has demanded that domestic tourist sites raise minimum standards in order to encourage private sector investment.

The public sector should link tourism sites with basic public networks, such as roads, electricity, water and telephones, in addition to applying international specifications, such as providing guides and security, said sources.

The ministry has also demanded enhanced cultural elements, such as camels, palm trees, dates, Arabian horses, traditional ornaments and falcon displays, at these sites.

“Ignorance is a key obstacle to domestic tourism development,” said sources. “As such, tourism education must be enhanced between citizens and tourism products must be produced and packaged attractively.”

Around 4 million trips were made abroad in 2008, with more than SR19 billion spent in foreign countries when a lot of this money could have gone to the national economy had sites been up to standards, said one source.

The ministry has since demanded that tourist accommodation be increased to 141,000 rooms and 92,000 residential units by the end of this year.