RIYADH — The Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTNH) and the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) have signed a cooperation agreement called "Integration Memorandum". The agreement includes an executive program of action which urges national and local airliners to increase local flights between various regions of the Kingdom all year around, especially during peak tourist seasons. This is in order to facilitate and accommodate tourist visits to the Kingdom, which has many tourist destinations and heritage sites. Prince Sultan Bin Salman, president of the SCTNH, and Minister of Transport and GACA President Sulaiman Al-Hamdan, signed the agreement here on Sunday. In a press release after the signing of the accord, Prince Sultan said this was the first time the agreement is called an "Integration Memorandum" and not a cooperation agreement. It is because of the that the cooperation is already ongoing. Prince Sultan appreciated the distinctive cooperation linking the two sectors, which resulted in major concrete achievements. "This becomes evident in the establishment of airports in a number of ourist destinations," he said and praised GACA's effort in the establishment and development of an advanced system of airports in the Kingdom. "Three years ago, the tourism commission began a new phase in strengthening the integration relationship with our partners in a greater and more effective way. We are assured of a greater cooperation with the Ministry of Transport and the General Authority of Civil Aviation. We already have fortnightly unofficial meetings, and at this particular stage we wanted to augment our relationship with the Ministry of Transport," he said. He said the SCTNH operates according to a strategic plan to develop the infrastructure approved by the state. He noted that the commission is working with the Ministry of Transport on a very large scale plan to upgrade roads and sites that require services. All of this is carried out according to a plan to serve our citizens above all, and to service and develop the sector and to strengthen and develop the economy. He said the SCTNH was working with GACA on several points. The strategic plan, which is not only a request, is a national tourism plan. "We see an example of this at Prince Abdumajeed Bin Abdulaziz Airport in Al-Ula. We are now working on other airports throughout the Kingdom. This is in addition to GACA's work on mega projects. And now work is ongoing on the new King Abdulaziz Airport in Jeddah, Madinah, as well as Taif airports. For his part, Minister of Transport Al-Hamdan stressed that the relationship between the two authorities is not something new and it is a relationship that complements one another. He said the GACA is responsible for many of the Kingdom's airports and will be a good conduit for several SCTNH initiatives in support of its program and the development of local tourism in all the Kingdom's sectors and regions. The agreement also includes cooperation between the two sides in highlighting the architectural heritage through brochures, films and publications. It also calls for allocation of places for the exhibition and sale of handicraft items in arrival and departure lounges.
