RIYADH: Summer vacation this year is going to mark hundreds of entertainment, cultural, social and heritage events lined up for summer festivals across the Kingdom aiming to promote domestic tourism.

“The Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) in collaboration with the public and partners has concluded preparations to launch Summerfest 2015, which will be distinguished with richness and diversity,” an SCTA spokesman said on Tuesday.

“The summer holidays will be distinguished with 57 festivals planned throughout the Kingdom which will include hundreds of socio-cultural events for different segments of society,” he added.

The SCTA on its official website provides an E-events calendar on the link http://event.scta.gov.sa to help citizens and expatriates select their preferred summer festival destination and know tourism offers and events.

To make their stay pleasant during the trip to popular tourism destinations hosting summer festivals, SCTA’s department of licensing and quality assurance has also intensified preparations for the festive season monitoring hotels and furnished apartments through inspection teams.

Visitors are urged to report any violation in tourism accommodation facilities by contacting the tourism contact center on the toll free number 19988, or submitting an actual complaint to the nearest branch of SCTA in case there is any increase in service charges above the allowed limit.

SCTA also supports domestic trip programs, which are carried out by licensed tour operators, through the program “Support of tourism trips.”

So far, 84 domestic tour programs have been conducted across different parts of the Kingdom by SCTA’s licensed tour operators.

The trip programs include tourist and cultural tours, mountain climbing, scuba diving, safari and desert trips.

These programs are ultimately aim to promote domestic tourism during vacations as a huge number of Saudis travel abroad during the summer.

Since its inception, SCTA has worked for the establishment of formidable tourism festivals utilizing international experience through development programs, which aim to provide SCTA support to the private sector and provinces for the organization and development of tourism festivals.