Ziyad Bin Mahfouz JEDDAH – In line with continuing efforts to cultivate innovation and drive the long-term growth of the hotel and tourism industries in Saudi Arabia, Prince Sultan bin Salman, President of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA), has decreed the restructuring of the Advisory Committee for Tourist Accommodation in the Kingdom. The annual restructuring of the committee aims to maintain the dynamism and infuse new energy into the hotel and tourism industries even as the former members of the previous committee were recognized for their contributions and the successful initiatives they have undertaken during their term. Ziyad Bin Mahfouz, a member of the present committee and president of Elaf Group, said the SCTA has instituted the annual restructuring of the committee as part of its growth strategy for the Kingdom's hospitality industry. “It is a great way to generate new ideas through the experiences and active involvement of new committee members,” said Bin Mahfouz. The former committee has supported various initiatives that promoted the Kingdom's hotel and tourism industries in the past year, including travel exhibitions, seminars, meetings, conferences, road shows, festivals and round tables. “The committee has been actively encouraging all travel and tourism agencies and companies to support the SCTA's programs, which are crucial in maintaining the long-term growth of the hotel and tourism sectors in 2013 and beyond,” he added. Aggressive government expenditure, particularly in various hospitality projects, has been one of the key factors that are creating exciting business opportunities in the Kingdom. Bin Mahfouz noted that the Saudi hospitality sector remains highly attractive to investors, given the huge number of tourists who visits the Kingdom each year. “As a leading industry player, Elaf Group continues to identify various ways to contribute to the sustainable growth of the industry. We have completed the renovation of our offices in Riyadh to better serve the central region of the Kingdom, particularly inbound tourism, which is a primary objective, as well as outbound tourism, which is a secondary objective. Our strong presence in Riyadh enables us to provide premium-quality services for inbound travelers to Jeddah, Makkah and Madinah, in line with the stringent standards and regulations of the SCTA,” Bin Mahfouz noted. — SG
