Saudi Tourism Minister Ahmed Al-Khateeb has approved a fresh list of amendments to the regulation of tourism accommodation facilities in the kingdom that are in line with the general strategy for developing the national tourism industry.
The amendments include licensing, classification, and control procedures, as well as an appendix covering the types, requirements, and classification criteria of tourism accommodation facilities.
Introduced changes are based on the best international practices in the field of tourism accommodations, confirmed Mohammad Bin Zaraah, a general manager at the Saudi tourism ministry.
Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, Zaraah revealed that the amendments were drafted in partnership with prominent global consultants and aim to reorganize the relationship between investors and clients while ensuring the rights of each party.
Despite passing the amendments, the ministry has granted licensed establishments a sufficient grace period to adapt and modify their status to fit new regulations and standards, Zaraah reaffirmed.
He also noted that existing licensees are exempt from having to make structural adjustments to buildings they are operating, but will have to provide compensation services that ensure costumers' right and fair competition among investors in the market.
Emphasizing that tourism accommodation facilities are key to hosting visitors from all over the world, Zaraah said that services offered to tourists must be available in different languages.
New regulations also rebranded furnished apartments as serviced apartments and boosted services offered in all of the kingdom’s tourism accommodation facilities.
According to amendments, tourism accommodation facilities in the kingdom like hotels, serviced apartments, and resorts will receive a classification rating that could range between one and six stars.
Licensees will have the right to be granted a period not exceeding 180 days to apply for the required classification certificate, class, and grade according to enforced procedure manuals.
The Saudi tourism minister had reaffirmed that the new amendments will seek to create a market that enjoys global and fair competitive advantages by developing and improving the licensing process, its conditions, requirements, classification, and standards.
