13 September 2013
Prince Sultan bin Salman, president of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities, has emphasized the need to develop more tourist facilities in the Kingdom to attract Saudi and foreign tourists.
"As tourists, Saudis are the highest spenders. They spend in neighboring tourist destinations and across the world. We must provide what they seek abroad in our country," he said, stressing the necessity of placing Saudi Arabia on the global tourism map.
"Citizens are the primary protectors of any heritage and they are the primary beneficiaries of developing heritage sites," Prince Sultan said while speaking at the Higher Steering Committee meeting for the Third National Urban Heritage Forum on Wednesday in Madinah.
The event is organized as part of activities to celebrate Madinah being chosen the Islamic Cultural Capital for 2013.
Madinah Gov. Prince Faisal bin Salman, who is also chairman of the steering committee, was present at the meeting.
Establishments that cooperate with the SCTA's National Urban Heritage Center (NUHC) to organize the forum include the Madinah Governorate Office, the Madinah Development Authority (MDA), the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu, Taibah University and the Madinah Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Prince Sultan noted an increasing trend of Saudis opting for tourist centers within the Kingdom over foreign tourism locations.
"We expect the Kingdom to become a major center for conventions and exhibitions in the Middle East following the launch of the National Program for Conventions and Exhibitions, which will create more jobs for Saudis," he said.
Prince Sultan highlighted the SCTA's efforts to develop the country's tourism industry over the past years. "We are now working toward issuing licenses for furnished apartments," he said, while indicating plans to pass new regulations for desert camps and their operators.
He shared that the proposed Okaz Cultural City in Taif would be established shortly over an area of 12 million square meters and that the project would include a convention and an exhibition center.
He commended Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal for his support for the heritage market development project. "Souk Okaz enjoys a great deal of attention from Prince Khaled," he said. The festival was launched on Tuesday.
The governor said that the Taif development committee, set up by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, had finalized plans and studies to strengthen the city's tourism industry and economic position.
Prince Sultan bin Salman, president of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities, has emphasized the need to develop more tourist facilities in the Kingdom to attract Saudi and foreign tourists.
"As tourists, Saudis are the highest spenders. They spend in neighboring tourist destinations and across the world. We must provide what they seek abroad in our country," he said, stressing the necessity of placing Saudi Arabia on the global tourism map.
"Citizens are the primary protectors of any heritage and they are the primary beneficiaries of developing heritage sites," Prince Sultan said while speaking at the Higher Steering Committee meeting for the Third National Urban Heritage Forum on Wednesday in Madinah.
The event is organized as part of activities to celebrate Madinah being chosen the Islamic Cultural Capital for 2013.
Madinah Gov. Prince Faisal bin Salman, who is also chairman of the steering committee, was present at the meeting.
Establishments that cooperate with the SCTA's National Urban Heritage Center (NUHC) to organize the forum include the Madinah Governorate Office, the Madinah Development Authority (MDA), the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu, Taibah University and the Madinah Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Prince Sultan noted an increasing trend of Saudis opting for tourist centers within the Kingdom over foreign tourism locations.
"We expect the Kingdom to become a major center for conventions and exhibitions in the Middle East following the launch of the National Program for Conventions and Exhibitions, which will create more jobs for Saudis," he said.
Prince Sultan highlighted the SCTA's efforts to develop the country's tourism industry over the past years. "We are now working toward issuing licenses for furnished apartments," he said, while indicating plans to pass new regulations for desert camps and their operators.
He shared that the proposed Okaz Cultural City in Taif would be established shortly over an area of 12 million square meters and that the project would include a convention and an exhibition center.
He commended Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal for his support for the heritage market development project. "Souk Okaz enjoys a great deal of attention from Prince Khaled," he said. The festival was launched on Tuesday.
The governor said that the Taif development committee, set up by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, had finalized plans and studies to strengthen the city's tourism industry and economic position.
© Arab News 2013
