Saudi Gazette report RIYADH – Prince Sultan Bin Salman, President of Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA), said that more than one million Saudis have been employed in the vital tourism sector, which has emerged as the second largest job providing economic sector in the Kingdom. In an address to the Shoura Council on Monday, Prince Sultan said that SCTA's plans to attract more Saudi youths to this sector have proved to be a resounding success. “There has been a substantial increase in the number of Saudis who have come forward to take up jobs in the tourism sector. The number of those employed in this sector shot up to over one million at present from about 230,000 a few years ago,” he said. According to Prince Sultan, SCTA has so far concluded 88 partnership agreements with various government and private agencies and organizations.
“Al-Oqair Tourism project is the best example of government and private partnership,” he said adding that there is a plan to carry out studies about establishing rail connectivity between Riyadh and Al-Oqair. Prince Sultan also unveiled plans to establish a government holding company, to be owned by the Public Investment Fund, to make all necessary services available in the newly explored tourism regions. “SCTA is ready to present six new tourism spots upon which the new company can work on immediately after its launching,” he said. The SCTA chief said that a new deal to develop Taif as a tourist region will be signed shortly. There is also a similar plan for Farasan Island in Jazan. Emphasizing the Commission's keenness in preserving Islamic historical sites, he said that historic Hira Cave and Tuwa Well in Makkah, Jabal Uhud region in Madinah, and sites of major Islamic battlefields will get a major facelift. Replying to a question about monitoring the quality and standard of hotels, he said that penal action was taken against hotels after the discovery of about 10,000 violations during the last few years.
