Sultan Al-Sughair Saudi Gazette DAMMAM — The Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) is implementing scores of projects in various parts of the Kingdom this year. These include a total of 148 projects worth over SR294 million in the areas of urban heritage, antiquities, museums, handicrafts, tourism sites development and general tourism development. The tourism commission is seeking through the projects to open a new horizon for investment by transforming heritage sites into tourism hot spots and to create thousands of temporary and permanent jobs for Saudis. The commission's scheduled projects listed in the current budget include 24 projects worth about SR19.6 million under implementation by the National Urban Heritage Center. “Four projects of the National Urban Heritage Center have already been completed, and many other projects are in different stages, including restoration of a number of heritage villages and towns. “In addition, work on the archaeological and historic studies for the development of Al-Samhan Quarter in Al-Diriya is set to start soon,” said a report issued by the commission recently. The antiquities sector is the prime beneficiary of SCTA's project plan for the current year, where it has witnessed implementation of 27 projects worth over SR13.38 million. Antiquities projects include fencing a number of archaeological sites in different provinces to be completed in the next two years. According to SCTA's plan in the antiquities sector, the current year will witness public bids for a number of projects. The projects include expansion, rehabilitation and restoration works in a number of heritage buildings, old palaces including those built by King Abdul Aziz, fortresses, walls, heritage villages and towns, in addition to museum projects and restoration of the now defunct Hijaz railway stations.
