Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs Prince Mansour bin Miteb told district municipalities to monitor companies executing projects near historical locations and coordinate with the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities.
Contracting companies have been instructed to obtain consent from the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) before starting construction work near archaeological and heritage sites.
The minister's directives came in response to SCTA chief Prince Sultan bin Salman's request after the demolition of a historical site in Al-Kaeebah in January.
Al-Kaeebah Well, a historical location built by the Canaanites and dating back to 3,000 BC in the Eastern Province city of Qatif, was destroyed by a construction sweeper causing rage among locals. The contractor said they were working on a housing project in the area.
Prince Mansour cited in his directive Article 12 of SCTA's regulations that clearly states that historical locations must be preserved and considered when projects in cities and villages are carried out and no projects should be implemented until after acquiring permission from the local SCTA branch and municipality.
Prince Sultan commended Prince Mansour's decision, considering it an extension of his support for SCTA's projects to maintain and preserve historical areas and heritage in the Kingdom.
In light of the minister's directives, the SCTA chief ordered the commission's branches to coordinate with municipality offices and monitor companies' projects.
Prince Sultan underscored the existing excellent partnership between the ministry and SCTA in implementing a number of programs and projects, especially the urban heritage programs. He appreciated the ministry's support for various programs and projects in the fields of tourism and heritage. "The minister's directive would help boost SCTA's attempts to protect and preserve the Kingdom's rich archeological and heritage sites from possible encroachments," he said.
In another development, Prince Sultan said the commission will speed up efforts to create maximum job opportunities for Saudi graduates from tourism colleges in the tourism companies and organizations across the Kingdom.
"SCTA is striving to make the tourism sector powerful as well as to tap its potential by generating employment opportunities for young Saudi jobseekers," he said. Prince Sultan, who is also chairman of the Consultative Council of the Tourism and Antiquities College under King Saud University (KSU), made the remarks while presiding over the council's meeting at the university's conference hall.
The prince said there has been a tremendous response from Saudi youths to take up challenging careers in tourism, hospitality and other related fields.
Said Al-Saeed, secretary-general of the council, said the meeting approved the plans to construct independent buildings for the college, and the antiquities' museum on the university campus. It also approved the strategic plan for the college and endorsed a memorandum of cooperation between the college and the National Tourism Committee at the Council of Saudi Chambers of Commerce and Industry.
© Arab News 2012
