RIYADH: Prince Sultan bin Salman, chairman of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA), inked yesterday in Riyadh a memorandum of cooperation with Labor Minister Adel Fakeih in a bid to boost Saudization in the tourism sector and promote job opportunities for Saudi graduates.
The cooperation seeks to provide jobs for Saudis in their respective areas that would eventually ease pressure on the main cities, according to the two officials. They also explored the possibility of offering tourism services to certain categories of pilgrims after performing their Haj rituals under what they call “Tourism after Haj”.
Speaking on the occasion, Prince Sultan said that his commission had a huge potential for absorbing Saudis either as investors – and becoming self-employed – or as employees.
The prince said: “We, in the tourism and labor sectors, are all concerned with providing jobs for our nationals. We had a major achievement last year with the cooperation of the labor minister and the Human Resources Development Fund in this regard.”
He observed that the SCTA was the second sector that had been Saudized in the Kingdom, adding that their concern was not just providing tourism services. “Our main goal is to employ Saudis who can create their own job opportunity as investors in the tourism sector and feel comfortable with what they are doing.”
He pointed out that the SCTA had been tasked by the government with creating jobs for Saudi nationals not merely to boost economic growth but also to ensure that these establishments offer jobs to nationals instead of foreigners.
Prince Sultan was happy to declare that Saudi Arabia has rich tourist spots, besides the two holiest places in the world. “We are proud of having these tourism spots in our country and that nobody can compete with us in the region in the sense of having the most sacred places in the world,” he said, adding that the Saudi geographical location in terms of ancient history and environment is unique for tourism.
The official also referred to upcoming decrees that would boost the industry. “We have done a lot in developing our services. There will be a new royal decree soon to further enhance tourism services, including regulating the prices here compared to other tourist spots in the world, as we monitor and know the pulse of our people. We will provide competitive rates very soon that will compare favorably with those of other countries,” he promised.
Last month, the Council of Ministers gave approval to support Saudi investors by providing loans for developing tourist spots and building tourist lodges, “because without this support our national tourism sector will not succeed in attracting Saudi tourists.”
The government has also decided to set up companies for tourism investment that will work in building the infrastructure of this sector, like those in neighboring countries. Al-Hukair, for instance, will invest SR 3.5 billion in comprehensive tourism spots to attract nationals to spend their vacation inside the country.
Referring to the agreement, Labor Minister Adel Fakeih said that the memorandum of cooperation aimed to implement the royal decree that orders to provide urgent solutions to deal with the increasing number of Saudi graduates entering the job market and provide them with training in the tourism sector.
It also seeks to activate a Ministerial Council resolution that approved the national strategic plan for handicrafts and industry.
Accordingly, the two authorities will prepare and hold training and workshops that would create jobs for nationals of various levels in different provinces in the Kingdom. The agreement will also urge companies and establishments working in tourism to employ suitable jobs for Saudis that meet their ambitions and needs in the future.
Fakeih said this would be on a gradual basis that would not complicate the Nitaqat program, giving priority to those who are registered in the Hafiz program.
SCTA and Labor Ministry ink memorandum of cooperation
