Fahd Al-Manaee Saudi Gazette MAKKAH — The Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities in Makkah shut down 11 hotels and furnished apartments in the holy city for operating without tourist licenses and failing to apply safety measures required by the Civil Defense, the SCTA announced Sunday. The hotels and apartments were instructed to accommodate the occupants in other accommodation facilities in collaboration with the tourism supervisory bodies. The shutdown operation was attended by representatives from the public security, the electricity company and other concerned government departments. The SCTA said it took this action as these establishments failed to comply with safety requirements, although they have been notified more than a year ago to correct their situation or face closure. “The latest of these warnings was last Tuesday when stickers were placed on hotels informing them that they had 48 hours to obtain licenses and implement safety measures otherwise they would be closed down,” the SCTA said. The STCA noted that the room occupants accepted the order gracefully and expressed understanding of the situation. The power was cut from the hotels after all the occupants had vacated. One of the hotels in the central area with more than a thousand rooms was willing to accommodate the displaced tourists. Executive director of the SCTA in Makkah Abdullah Al-Sawwat said the move was aimed at promoting the services being provided by the accommodation facilities in Makkah and said the hotels and furnished apartments could reopen after renewing their licenses and applying all the safety measures required by the Civil Defense and the Makkah municipality. He said these hotels and furnished apartments were instructed not to accept any guests until they were formally given the green light to reopen.
