RIYADH — Minister of Tourism and Chairman of the Tourism Accommodation Committee Ahmed Al-Khateeb Saturdy evening inspected several hotels and other housing facilities in the capital city of Riyadh designated to host citizens returning from outside the Kingdom. He expressed satisfaction over the facilities and services, stating that they are excellent, meeting all the quality and safety standards and ensuring comfortable stay of the returnees during the quarantine period. Al-Khateeb also visited King Khalid International Airport. Accompanied by Abdulhadi Al-Mansouri, president of the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), he inspected the passage designated for the arrival of passengers and the arrangements made by all government agencies for receiving the returning citizens. Al-Khateeb also inspected buses arranged by the Ministry of Education to transfer them from the airport to the hotels designated for them during the quarantine period as well as efforts of the Ministry of Health in this regard. The minister's inspection tour coincided with the arrival of a flight, carrying on board about 265 citizens coming from Washington. He inspected the facilities for the passengers arriving after completion of the passport control procedures, as well as their transfer to medical tests, and then reception by the Tourist Accommodation Committee members who handed them keys of their hotel rooms. At the end of the tour, Al-Khateeb stressed that the operations room of the Tourist Accommodation Committee works around-the-clock, and receives citizens' communications with the aim of providing them with all the amenities to ensure their comfortable stay. A few days ago, Al-Mansouri clarified that GACA has completed its preparations to receive Saudis returning from abroad at King Khalid International Airport, King Abdulaziz International Airport, Jeddah and King Fahd International Airport, Dammam. This followed the statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs last Sunday that it plans to fly home citizens abroad willing to return to the country during the coronavirus outbreak period, and has launched an electronic service to register those interested. During the five-day registration period, priority was accorded to those in countries most hit by the coronavirus, pregnant women and elders, the ministry said adding that citizens will be subject to a 14-day quarantine upon their return.
