RIYADH: The Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) has ordered all hotels and furnished residential units not to add further service charges to those already specified by the commission. The SCTA will penalize those who do not comply. Ahmad Al-Eisa, Director General of Licenses and Quality, said the SCTA has noticed that hotels do not comply with directives to remove certain service charges from bills. He said punitive measures will be taken against violators at the start of the summer vacation. Al-Eisa stressed that the commission is in the process of restructuring the accommodation sector to compete with neighboring markets and ensure tourists get equally top class services. He pointed out that the SCTA has called on hotel and furnished residential unit operators and owners to abide by the charges determined in their current classification. For his part, Omar Al-Mubarak, Director of the Monitoring Department in the General Administration for Licenses and Quality, said the SCTA also wants to ensure strict monitoring and inspection of tourist accommodation facilities. “This is because this sector needs further control including closing down of some facilities that do not meet the minimum conditions for security and hygiene,” the official said. Inspectors must make sure that accommodation facilities abide by license conditions, according to the STCA's new and developed classification criteria, to place a limit on illegal price hikes during the vacation season. Al-Mubarak said the commission will impose penalties mentioned in the regulations if the facility does not abide by the services criteria and specified charges. He said the purpose of this measure is to protect the rights of all parties including investors and local and international guests. This will have a positive effect on the quality of services, ensure investment growth and provide job opportunities, he said. Aside from issuing licenses, the SCTA coordinates its activities with the municipalities, Civil Defense and security authorities to ensure that the accommodation facilities implement the conditions and requirements set by them, he said. Al-Mubarak said that those operating without SCTA licenses face fines of up to SR10,000. Those who prevent SCTA inspectors from carrying out their duties and facility owners who do not rectify problems identified by the SCTA are subject to sterner punitive measures. This includes the facility being closed down, said Al-Mubarak. To complain to the SCTA, a tourist or guest should call 018808855 during office hours or the toll free number 8007550000 outside working hours or make contact via the SCTA's website www.scta.gov.sa.
