Only three of 24 hotels in Taif have been classified five star establishments – representing only 13 percent of the total number of hotels in the region. According to sources no furnished flats have been classified as first class. Most have been rated second or third class although many were first class in the past. Meanwhile, sources added that there may be a possible price rise for renting of property already classified by the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA). The sources said the SCTA had previously slashed the hotels' rental rates from 70 percent to 30 percent; and furnished flats rentals by 50 percent. The minister of commerce had fixed the prices in the high seasons. They said the commission will fix the rental rates of residential units in each region after receiving reports from its inspectors. Rates will vary from one hotel to another. They said the rates to be fixed by the commission are mandatory for all hotels and furnished flats in all regions, with the exception of Makkah and Madina.
