| SCTA DELIVERS |
 |
| The SCTA's new statute was approved
by the Ministers' Council on 24 March 2008. Part of the
recommendations that accompanied the decision to issue the new
statute was SCTA should update the General Tourism Strategy
issued in 2004, and should prepare a 3-year business plan backed
by a suitable organization structure to implement it. In light
of this SCTA has worked with a number of Consulting firms and
experts to update the strategy and to devise the new business
plan and structure. The new plan starts in 2012 and ends by the
end of 2014 in order to coincide with end of the Kingdom's 9th
National Development Plan. In addition to the business plan and
the organization structure, SCTA has also devised a plan for
SCTA's operations starting from 2009 and ending 2014 to coincide
too with the end of SCTA's Business Plan and the Kingdom's
National Development Plan. |
| Conflict of Interests Policy |
|
| SCTA Board of Directors has approved
by its resolution No. 1/23 dated 29/11/1431H the “Disclosure and
Prevention of Conflict of Interest Regulation”. The regulations
aims at ensuring the independence and impartiality of SCTA
employees in performing their duties, and regulates the rules of
disclosure and transparency. |
| Quality Assurance ISO9000 |
|
| As part of its commitment to create
a culture of high productivity and quality, SCTA has embraced
the implementation of an organization-wide project for Quality
Assurance. The ISO9000 system was selected to act as means for
facilitating the adoption of the new quality culture within SCTA
head office and branches. The main ends in mind from
implementing the ISO9001include enhancing clarity and
transparency within the policies and procedures, and ensuring
delivery of results is achieved according to internationally
recognized standards and practices. The ISO implementation was
carried out in four phases, starting in 2006 with the
President's offices and the Support division, then in 2007 the
implementation covered all departments and divisions of SCTA,
then SCTA's branches were covered between 2008 and 2009, and
finally the full implementation was concluded in 2009 by
including the newly formed division of Antiquities and Museums. |
| E-Government Applications |
|
| From the start SCTA was built as an
organization that to a full extent adopts the best e-government
applications and practices in running its business. The
necessary infrastructure was laid to achieve this goal so that
SCTA becomes one of the first government entities that implement
the leadership's vision of establishing e-Gov. applications for
managing business operations. To date, SCTA has achieved
advanced levels in this direction starting from the
implementation of Work Flow to manage the flow of work between
its departments and divisions on daily basis, the implementation
of GRP (Government Resource Planning) to plan and manage
financial and other resources, the visual and audio
communications with branches, the implementation of electronic
applications for managing documents (SEEK), and the
implementation of IT applications for managing and administering
human resources and purchasing. The number of applications SCTA
has launched reached 84 applications and SCTA has received a
number of prestigious awards from national and international
professional bodies specialized in IT applications and
e-government. |
| Organizational Development and Culture |
|
| The fast pace of technological
change, globalization and intense competition have made
organizational development (OD) a necessary condition for high
effectiveness and efficiency, and hence survival. SCTA has
demonstrated its continuing faith in the promise and approach of
OD by establishing a permanent OD unit and providing it with all
the support and resources necessary for fulfilling its mandate.
In its determination to make full benefit of OD in improving
management practices, work methods and procedures and employee
performance, SCTA has undertaken to draft and implement a
comprehensive OD project (ODP). The objective of this project is
to comprehensively and significantly improve practices,
performances, corporate culture and job satisfaction in SCTA by
using tested methods and tools of OD. Hence, SCTA embraced an
8-dimension framework for achieving excellence, as well as
identifying eight core values that govern organizational
behavior and communication. SCTA is committed to creating a
corporate culture conducive to high productivity,
professionalism and job satisfaction. Accordingly, this has been
one of the main priorities of OD. For the last two years SCTA
has earned the second place twice on the list of the best work
environment in the Public sector of the Kingdom , which is
organized by Al-Iqtisadiyah Newspaper. |
| Saudi Tourism Outlook |
|
| A monthly electronic bulletin in
Arabic and English covering key tourism indicators at national,
regional and international levels. As well as, some related
economic indicators. Also, contains information about the price
index of travel and tourism services.
|
| Tourism Statistics Bulletin |
|
| A half-annual Arabic publication by
MAS which covers the tourism statistics in easily readable
format, in addition to MAS’s main reports and publications. It
is distributed with one of the local newspaper, as well as in
MAS website. |
| Tourism Statistical Database |
|
| The Tourism Statistics Database
(QAS) is an express source for statistical data on domestic,
inbound and outbound tourism. It aims at providing specialized
tourism references and facilitating research services for SCTA
employees and its stakeholders. The database contains monthly
updated statistics and data on domestic, inbound and outbound
tourism from 2004 to date.http://www.mas.gov.sa/
|
| SCTA Electronic Library |
|
| SCTA worked on the development of
the library holdings in line with the objectives and competence.
The library contains many different books and periodicals
relevant to all areas and public and is constantly updated. It
is considered as a storehouse of SCTA's information and
documents.
www.scta.gov.sa/en/MediaCenter/Videos/Pages/Videogallery.aspx
|
| SCTA Website |
|
| The goal of this site is to
contribute in the implementation of SCTA's main missions. which
are to motivate and develop the sustainable development of
tourism in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by providing integrated
information about SCTA and the services it provides. which
contributed significantly to the awareness of cultural tourism
in the community.
www.scta.gov.sa
|
| Government Projects Management (GPM) |
|
| One the ultimate goals of SCTA is to
automate all of its business processes; project management tools
are one of the major milestones that can serve this purpose
internally within SCTA and externally with SCTA’s stakeholders
as part of the SCTA e-Management strategy. The main benefit of
the GPM (Government Project Management system) is to quickly
master the project management process with the project Guide, a
step by step interactive aide that helps SCTA set up projects,
Manage tasks and resources, track schedules, and report project
information as well as Improved efficiency & customer service,
Flexibility and Business process improvement within SCTA.
|
| Tourism Development Councils and
Provincial Tourism Offices (PTOs) |
|
| SCTA has worked on empowering the
regions to develop Tourism by establishing Local Tourism
Organizations (LTOs) one in each area of the Kingdom. Each LTO
is chaired and governed by top government official as well as by
key figures from the community and the private sector.
Additionally, the LTOs are supported by PTOs (Provincial Tourism
Organizations) which are entities directed, funded, and manned
by SCTA to help the Tourism Council of the area it operates
within to achieve its goal of developing Tourism in the area
based on a well-defined and realistic strategic plan, and to
autonomously run the activities associated with developing and
managing local Tourism in an effective and efficient manner. |
| SCTA's New Statute |
|
| The Saudi Commission for Tourism and
Antiquities (SCTA) was established by Council of Ministers
Resolution No. 78 of 16.03.1429 H, (24.3.2008) which also
ratified the SCTA Statute. The SCTA resulted from a merger of
the former SCT and the Deputy Ministry of Antiquities and
Museums. The SCTA emerged with an expanded mandate, not only by
virtue of the combination of the two constituent entities, but
also because of the additional jurisdictions entrusted to it by
the Council of Ministers through its statute. In practice, the
SCTA not only continues to function as the Kingdom’s national
tourism administration (NTA), but in addition, by virtue of its
jurisdiction over much of the Kingdom’s cultural heritage, also
as the Kingdom’s national cultural heritage agency. Article 3
(a) of the SCTA Statute defines the purpose of the Commission as
follows: “The Commission’s main purpose shall be to promote
tourism in the Kingdom through organizing, developing and
marketing it. The Commission also aims to enhance the role of
tourism as an important resource of the national economy, help
overcome obstacles to its growth in a manner consistent with the
Kingdom’s status and values, care for and preserve the Kingdom’s
antiquities and ensure their contribution to cultural and
economic development, care for museums and advance
archaeological work in the Kingdom. The private sector shall
play the primary role in the construction of tourism investment
facilities”. The SCTA Statute has given it a significantly
expanded mandate, notably by bringing under its wing core
tourism sectors, which were previously under the purview of
other government agencies, such as accommodation, travel and
tour services, tour guides and related tourism activities, for
the regulation of which it has been made solely responsible. The
SCTA mandate has clarified the role and objectives of the
national tourism administration, and as such it has filled
fairly adequately the main public sector institutional aspects
of the tourism legal framework
|
| Agri-Tourism |
 |
| As a result to the Kingdom sizes and
a wide running agriculture part of a large and important ones,
and relies on this sector, the Commission provided the
initiative for the development of agro-tourism to maximize their
role in the development of tours to agricultural areas, and to
demonstrate the importance of economic and social development
with the employment of tourism in the service of agriculture.
Known as agro-tourism as a means of trips where tourists a
private farm or agricultural projects to enjoy a number of
activities that are organized or carried out on the land of the
farm, and may include short-term housing with meals. Which have
important aspect: • Economical • Social impact. • Cultural
significance
|
| Health and Wellness Tourism (H&WT) |
|
| Health and wellness tourism is one
of the most important tourist patterns of economic returns
achieved by the tourism industry and tourist destinations and
the health sector. With the economic boom witnessed by the
Kingdom and the great development of medical services, the
pattern of health tourism and treatment of the most viable
tourist patterns of growth and development because of the
Kingdom appropriate elements of both natural and those created
by the government and the private sector. For developing and
supporting this sector SCTA has held an agreement with the
Ministry of Health aiming to facilitate visa issuance and
pricing medical packages for tourists.
www.scta.gov.sa/Programs-
Activities/Programs/Pages/HealthTourismProgram.aspx
|
| MICE Tourism |
|
| SCTA is pursuing this initiative in
collaboration with a number of partners namely; the Ministry of
Commerce- Council of Chambers of Commerce, the Ministry of the
Interior, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the private
sector. The Vision for Saudi Arabia in relation to the MICE
sector is that: “By 2025, the MICE sector will be a significant
element of the Saudi Arabian economy, generating substantial
export earnings and employment. It will be a force in promoting
a positive image of Saudi Arabia abroad and stimulating inward
investment through many sectors of the economy. This Vision is
translated into an overarching aim and a number of more specific
objectives. The overall Aim is to increase the expenditure
generated by the MICE sector to generate employment within the
Saudi Arabian economy. By 2027 to have doubled expenditure from
MICE. |
|
The Strategic Objectives are: |
|
• To target market segments that offer the best potential
Return on Investment (RoI) through series of branding and
promotional activities.
|
|
• To develop a world class product.
|
|
• To develop Saudi’s human resources to be a major asset in
the MICE offer.
|
|
• To make Saudi Arabia more accessible through a combination
of streamlined and better managed regulations.
|
|
The above is to be achieved by enhancing the number,
attraction & quality of MICE events, increasing MICE
visitors' expenditure, and leveraging the level of
investments in the Saudi mice markets. Therefore, the MICE
sector will be built on a thriving domestic market, and it
will be not only a truly competitive destination among the
GCC countries but also a player in the global market place.
Saudi Arabia’s competitive position will be based on the
quality and design of its principal venues concentrated in
Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam, the quality of its hospitality
and services, and its expertise in major event organising.
www.scta.gov.sa/en/ProgramsActivities/Programs/Pages/BusinessTourismProgram.
aspx
|
| Tour Operators |
|
| Tour of the most important means for
marketing tourism destinations of Saudi tourists, and the
General Authority for Tourism and Antiquities to support and
develop the capacity of tour operators including increase in
tourist movement internal and upgrade the quality of tourism
programs provided, and the development of economic returns, and
building an outstanding reputation for tourism in the Kingdom.
www.scta.gov.sa/Programs-
Activities/Programs/Pages/TripsOrganizersProgram.aspx
|
| Event support program |
|
| The Saudi Commission for Tourism
give support in organizing and developing different kinds of
tourist events, cultural, sports, recreational, in different
areas all around the year for all categories of society. We do
this, through giving technical, marketing, media and financial
support in order to increase the tourist movement; achieve
economic revenues; identify new tourist destinations.
www.scta.gov.sa/Programs-
Activities/Programs/Pages/TourismEventsDevelopment.aspx
|
| Tourism Regulations |
|
| The SCTA has sought to bring about
improvements to certain aspects of the regulatory framework on
the strength of existing legislation, notably in respect of the
regulation of those tourism sectors that have been transferred
to the SCTA from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Thus,
new regulations have been prepared for Tourist Accommodation on
the strength of the existing Hotels Act (see below), and
informally for Travel Agents, Tour Operators, and Tour Guides. |
|
The accommodation sector |
|
The existing Hotels Act, which comprises Royal Decree No.
M/27 of 05/04/1395H, together with Ministerial resolution
No. 348 of 11/4/1395H, is arguably the most important piece
of sector-specific legislation in the field of tourist
accommodation since it lays the foundation for all of the
subsequent legislation.
|
|
The new accommodation classification systems |
|
The SCTA has developed new classification systems for hotels
and tourist furnished apartments with updated and
internationally compatible criteria and standards focusing
on buildings and services to replace the old ones. According
to the new systems, hotels are classified from 2 to 5 stars,
while furnished apartments are again classified into three
classes but with revised criteria and standards.
|
|
Travel agents |
|
The travel agents sub-sector is governed by Ministry of
Defence, Aviation and General Inspectorate Decree No.
1/1/4/8/10/2974 issue in 1419H. This decree provides a
definition of tourism and travel companies and agencies and
air cargo offices. The decree requires that a licence to
operate be obtained from the General Authority of Civil
Aviation, a function that has now been transferred to the
SCTA, except for the licensing of cargo offices which has
been retained by GACA.
|
|
Tour Operators |
|
Given the absence of specific regulations for tour
operators, the former SCT developed separate regulations,
which were adopted following approval by the SCT Board of
Directors Chairman on 16/12/1426H. However, strictly
speaking, this is an informal and interim arrangement
pending ratification of the Tourism Law, which will provide
the necessary enabling powers. Under these new regulations
four categories of tour operator are recognized for
licensing purposes: 1. Domestic tour operator (may work all
over the Kingdom, serving only tourists living in Kingdom )
2. Local tour operator (may work in specific region of the
Kingdom only) 3. Inbound tour operator (may serve inbound
tourists, has authority to apply for tourist visas) 4.
Outbound tour operator (serves outbound tourists)
|
|
Tour guides |
|
As with tour operators, there was no legislation governing
tour guides. Therefore, the former SCT, in co-operation with
the Ministry of Interior, the Technical and Vocational
Training Corporation, the Prince Sultan College for Tourism
and Business, academics in the field of archaeology and
history, tour operators and practicing tour guides, drafted
a regulation to license tour guides. This regulation was
issued by the Chairman of the SCT Board of Directors on
29/07/1426. However, as with the case of tour operator
licensing, this is an informal and interim arrangement
pending ratification of the Tourism Law, which will provide
the necessary enabling powers. Licensing of tour guides
began on 29/07/1427 and a total of 100 guides have been
licensed. There are three categories of tour guide: 1.
National tour guide (works all over the kingdom ) 2.
Regional tour guide (works in specific region only ) 3. Site
tour guide (works in a specific tourism site only )
|
| The Time Share Law and its Executive
Charter |
|
| Although the concept of timeshare is
relatively new in the Kingdom, legislation has been rushed to
deal with this new phenomenon. The former SCT has been delegated
responsibility and, drawing on international best practice, has
assisted with the drafting of primary legislation, the Timeshare
Law. This legislation was enacted by Royal Decree No. M/52 of
20.08.1427 H, (13/10/ 2006), which is now known as the Law of
Time Share Properties (the “Timeshare Law”). On 06.05.1428 H
(23/05/2007), the Time Share Executive Charter for Tourism Real
Estate Units (Implementing Regulations of the Timeshare Law),
was issued by the former SCT. Thus the SCTA has been given the
mandate to administer the Timeshare Law including the
responsibility for the registration and licensing of timeshare
establishments and operators, and for the review and validation
of timeshare contracts or agreements between owners/developers
and prospective buyers. Protection of owners and buyers based
timeshare SCTA has also issued rules and regulations, and
operational procedures for the rules and regulations so as to
achieve the highest level of efficiency, transparency and
clarity with all the beneficiaries. Eager to provide this
service for the public SCTA has built an electronic system which
works on automating all the work on the regulations and
requirements of the timeshare activity in Tourism Real Estate.
It has also automated user license mechanism of the timeshare
activity through the Web site of the timeshare. The Royal Decree
was issued to stop the provisions of the timeshare in Mecca and
Medina and formed to implement the resolution of three
committees in the form of experts: 1- To modify the provisions
of the timeshare in accordance with the order of the High, has
suggested a SCTA with some members of the committee limit the
exclusion to non-Saudis, Then another rotal decree issued to
limit the exclusion to non-saudis . 2- To study the contracts
concluded in accordance with the provisions of the timeshare and
make recommendations, has completed its work and submitted the
minutes on 1/8/1432 AH. 3- To determine the mechanism for
dealing with visa applications to the underlying owners of
timeshare contracts, committee has present its report on
25/7/1432 AH. http://timeshare.scta.gov.sa/timeshare/index.jsp
|
| The New Antiquities & Museums Law and
Antiquities & Museums Regulations |
|
| There are new drafts of Antiquities
& Museums Law and Antiquities & Museums Regulations currently
has been sent to Shoura Council for further deliberation after
having been reviewed by the Experts Bureau.
|
| The Tourism Law |
|
| The SCTA has submitted a draft
Tourism Law, which is currently under review by the Supreme
Economic Council (SEC). The proposed Tourism Law seeks to
establish a legal framework for several critical functions of
the tourism industry including tourism site development,
industry licensing, specialized tourism trade associations,
tourism visa system, tourism funding, and educational standards.
When enacted, the Tourism Law will aim to develop the tourism
sector as an important resource of the national economy
specifically through the: • provision of tourism development
policies and strategies • organization and control of
investments in public tourism areas • creation of a conducive
investment environment to support tourism development •
organization and control of tourism activities • drawing up of
plans and programs for the development of tourism facilities and
services • organization and control of the mechanism of
cooperation and coordination among tourism related entities •
organization and control of the relations between the SCTA, the
licensees and the tourists to achieve a balance between tourism
facilities and their customers
|
| The Tourism Statute |
|
| The statute aims at gaining the best
performance from the Tourism facilities that are operating now
and will operate in the future. It also aims to strike a balance
between the interests of the owners of Tourism facilities and
the interests of the beneficiaries from the services of these
facilities. In light of this the statute provides clear
definitions of the roles, responsibilities and authorities that
SCTA will be exercising to influence the performance of the
various players in the Tourism industry of the Kingdom such as,
the Hotels & Hospitality sector, the Travel agencies, the Tour
operators, and others. In addition, the statute shows the levies
SCTA will be collecting from those who benefit from operating
within the Tourism industry of the Kingdom, and it shows the
mechanisms that will be put in place to govern the way the
industry is run including mechanisms for compliance and
penalties.
|
| Tourism Virtual Tours |
|
| SCTA launched the virtual reality
tours to promote, market, preserve, educate about the tourism
sites and tourism services (hotels or restaurants), that can
visually demonstrate the competitive strengths for the Saudi
Kingdom through e-tourism. The virtual tours project aims to
develop a mechanism to increase the awareness about tourism in
the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The project will explore a new way
to increase the awareness of heritage tourism by implementing
the latest and most appropriate technological and informative
methods, and taking advantage of experiences of developed
countries. http://tourismmap.scta.gov.sa/
|
| Antiquities & Culture Media Promotion |
|
| SCTA is currently working on
establishing National Cultural Dimensions in the general
education curriculum, as well as establishing cooperation
programs with the Ministry of Education. Also in its efforts to
spread awareness about antiquities SCTA will produce a number of
Documentaries on Antiquities and Heritage, also Antiquities and
Culture Media flashes, National Culture in Young Hands. With the
promotion of Archeological Exhibitions in commercial malls, and
vast media campaigns accompanying cultural activities and
exhibitions, Museum Briefcase, Culture Blogs on the internet, as
well as marking more than 200 National Cultural Monuments on
Google Earth App.
|
| TERHAL, VOYAGER, TOURISM & ANTIQUITIES,
and TAWASUL periodic. |
|
| SCTA periodically publishes a number
of magazines & newsletters about Saudi tourism development &
SCTA initiatives in this regard such as: • Terhal which is
concerned with everything related to travel and tourism in the
Kingdom and shed light on the diverse tourist Views.
www.tirhal.com
• Tawasul is an electronic newsletter published every couple of
weeks about SCTA updates & SCTA's employees as well as some
articles. • VOYAGER is one of the important English
communication channels with the public inside & outside the
Kingdom.
www.saudivoyager.com • Tourism & Antiquities is monthly
published giving general information on tourist sites covered by
the process of development and the most prominent monuments and
sites, with the presentation of recent developments in the
tourism sector of national. • ATTLAL: An annual specialized
publication by the Antiquities and Museums Sector aimed at
publishing Archeological studies and excavation work done by
SCTA.
|
| Programs of Tourist Diplomas |
|
| SCTA is currently working with King
Abdul-Aziz University in Jeddah to set up an institute of
training on tourism occupations, required by the labor market.
That will be achieved through making use of the tourist criteria
set by SCTA in cooperation with several specialized
organizations. The institute will grant the diploma degree.
Also, SCTA is working with King Saud University to set up a
sponsor organization for small and middle businesses. Moreover,
SCTA has an orientation to open private colleges and training
institutes, which are constructed by the private sector and
sponsored by SCTA, because of the need of the training market in
the Kingdom to 43 training centers within 20 years. That led
some of the current organizations, like Prince Sultan College
for Tourism and Management in Abha, to adopt the opening of a
new branch in Jeddah governorate in the light of the increasing
demand for this kind of university education.
|
| College of Tourism and Antiquities at
King Saud University |
|
| By 2012, the acceptance will begin
in the College of Tourism and Antiquities at King Saud
University, Riyadh. The resolution of establishing the College
is a result of the cooperation between the SCTA and King Saud
University to fulfill the scientific and practical integration
in the fields of antiquities, tourism, and heritage resources
management through restructuring the department of Antiquities
and Museums to meet the demands required in the Kingdom’s labor
market. It is expected that the College will contribute to
meeting the needs of the Tourism activity; which requires highly
qualified workforce.
|
| Colleges for Hotel and Tourism
Hospitality |
|
| (SCTA) reached an agreement with
the General Organization for Technical Education and Vocational
Training, Acore World Company which is famous in the field of
hotel management. The aim of this agreement is to set up and
operate three new hotel colleges in Riyadh, Al- ahsa, and Taif.
The new colleges grant different scientific degrees that meet
the needs of hotel's labor market in the Kingdom either in the
existing or future establishments. The colleges provide the
students with dormitories and internal restaurants, which will
be fully managed and operated by the students as a part of the
training work that prepare them for practical life
|
| Rural Tourism Hotels |
|
| The Saudi Commission for Tourism &
Antiquities in cooperation with a number of governmental and
non-governmental parties is preparing for a project to establish
tourism rural and environmental hotels. This ambitious project
is one of the pioneer projects that the SCTA is working to
achieve in the following few years in order to make a
qualitative improve in the rural and environmental tourism
field. Accordingly, SCTA has recently held several workshops and
meetings with the concerned parties in order to select the sites
to be invested in this field. Some rural and environmental sites
were selected in Riyadh Region, the Eastern Region, Assir and
Tabouk Regions. The project sets a number of environmental,
urban and architectural directions and standards to identify the
requirements necessary to establish rural rest areas in the
rural areas as to develop the tourism sector in these areas with
sustainable environmental and natural features. SCTA has studied
52 sites in Tabuk Region, 81 sites in Assir Region, 176 sites in
Riyadh and in the Eastern Regions Province. A number of
standards were applied on 6 sites in each province. The
selection was based on the easy access to the site, the tourism
attraction and the provision of services
|
| Specialized Museums |
|
| Existing Museums: • Al- Masmak
Museum (the Recapture of Riyadh). • King Abdul Aziz Memorial
Hall in King Abdul Aziz Dara. • Saqr Al-Jazeera Aviation Museum.
• Monitary Museum in (SMA). • King Faisal Museum. New Museums: •
Dar Al-Qran Museum in Al-Medina Al-Munawara. • Modern Arts
Museum. • Mining Museum. • Transportation Museum. • Palm Museum
• Adderiyah Museum in Salwa Palace in Hai Alturaif. • Arms
Museum. • Islamic Science Museum in KAUST.
|
| Local County Museums |
|
| • Al-Ghatt Museum in Al- Amara
Palace. • Al-Dawadmi Museum in King Abdul Aziz Palace. • Wadi
Addawasir Museum in King Abdul Aziz Palace. • Dhuba Museum in
King Abdul Aziz Fort. • Al-Wajh Museum in Al-Souq Fort. • Levant
Hajj Route Museum in Al-Hijr Fort. • Hijaz Railway Museum in
Al-Hijr • Unaiza Museum in Beit Al-Bassam. • Shaqra Museum in
Beit Al-Sebai’e • Al-Majma’a Museum in Beit Al- Rabe’a •
Al-Qraiyat County Museum in Kaf Palace. • Al-Zilfi Museum in
Biet Al-Turath. • Beit Al-Bai’ah Museum in Al-Ahsa •
Al-Ameeriyah School Museum. • Ibrahim Palace Museum. • Biet
Al-Babtain Museum. • Aynouna Museum in Al-Amara building in
Al-Khuraiba • Jazan City Museum in Al-Doseriyah Fort. •
Al-Othmania fort Museum in Farasan • Ushaiqer Museum
|
| State Owned Palaces during the Reign of
King Abdul Aziz Museums |
|
| These include a number of
specialized museums, to be included in the following significant
monuments: • Khozam Palace Museum Project in Jeddah • Historic
Photographs Museum in Al-Bade’a Palace in Riyadh. • Al-Muabda
Palaces Compound in Mekkah. • Development of Museum Displays in
Al-Muraba Palace in Riyadh.
|
| Private Museum Owners Forum |
|
| SCTA appreciates the highly
significant role of private museums in preserving the cultural
heritage of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia through the initiatives
of the owners of these museums that requires much time and
effort from them. In its ongoing efforts for the development of
private museums, SCTA plans to hold a forum once every two years
in one of the provinces of the Kingdom to discuss and shed light
on the issues of private museums. The forum held in 2011 was the
first of its kind to be organized by SCTA for the owners of a
private museum in collaboration with the Faculty of Tourism and
Antiquities, King Saud University in Riyadh. • SCTA has issued
more than (65) permits for private museums. • SCTA plans to
provide technical Support for private museums, • SCTA is working
on a rating system for Museums. • SCTA will Provide Restoration
and Maintenance of Classified artifacts.
www.scta.gov.sa/en/Antiquities-
Museums/Pages/MultqaAlmatahef.aspx
|
| Development of New and Existing Regional
Museums |
|
| Five museums are currently under
construction in major Regional Capitals of the Kingdom such as:
Abha, Al-Baha, Hail, Tabuk and Al-Dammam. The studies, designs
and scenarios for the aforesaid museums have already been
completed. In addition, two more regional museums will be
established in Al-Qaseem and the Northern Province. In the Holy
cities of Makkah and al-Madinah museums are already established
in Al-Zaher Palace (Makkha) and in the old Hijazi railway
station in Al-Madinah. Also, SCTA is currently undergoing a
process of further developing, renovating and upgrading six
existing regional museums in Najran, Jazan. Al-Ula, Tayma and
Al-Ahsa .
|
| The National Museum development |
|
| Modern techniques are used at the
National Museum to display, maintain and preserve objects. There
are investment shops at the museum to organize marketing events
for public and collectors. The museum has an encoding ,
educational and information facility for the blinds . Certain
activities involved museum friends and trustees. There are
several publications highlighting the museum’s role in the
preservation of cultural heritage. • A board of Trustees (BoT)
is established for the National Museum. • A new Operation
program aiming to attract more school visits. • Local and
international Training programs for the Museum Administrative
and Technical staff. • Signing bilateral agreements with a
number of well-known international Museums. • Organizing joint
international exhibitions with the national museum.
|
| Licensing Tourism Trip Operators |
|
| By the end of May 2006 the Saudi
Commission for Tourism & Antiquities started licensing tourism
trip operators which enabled them to obtain tourism visas after
fulfilling the needed requirements. This will facilitate the
important role of tourism trip operators in attracting
international tourists. The Kingdom is now more aware about the
importance of tourism industry as it is a sustainable income
generator and job opportunity creator. The SCTA targets this
industry as an important aspect for comprehensive development
and supports tourism trip operators in delivering high quality
services, especially after the Kingdom had joined the World
Trade Organization. The SCTA has set certain rules to obtain
tour operator license according to the requirements of such a
license, such as qualifications and experience, in addition to
the agency's requirements and the general financial commitments
regarding tourist protection. |
| Stimulating Small to Medium Enterprises |
|
| Financing small and medium
enterprises is one of the biggest obstacles facing the fresh
entrants to industry. However SCTA's Initiative of signing a set
of agreements, of cooperation with different government and
private funds, contributed significantly to help Saudi youths to
establish their own businesses in the tourism industry. As a
result, SCTA signed five memorandums and maintained more than 42
projects, which have been financed with total value of 21
million Saudi Riyals. |
| Tourism Investment Services centers |
|
| The aim of establishing TISC is to
promote tourism investment opportunities; to effectively respond
to the investors’ inquiries, and to direct tourism investors
towards the development of SME’s. To reach this overall goal and
to help fostering investment, SCTA lunched 16 tourism Investment
Service Centers all over the Kingdom. |
| Tourism Development Fund |
|
| The Tourism Development Fund is
proposed to support projects that encourage tourism investment,
tourism product development and industry capacity building. The
aim of the initiative is to: • Support domestic tourism
development by financing activities of tourism development
companies; • Support completing the development of
infrastructure services to target tourist sites in addition to
the provision of soft loans and credit facilities for
investments to develop tourism in the Kingdom; • Support the
creation or revitalization of tourism projects and experiences.
www.scta.gov.sa/en/TourismInvestment/SupportTourismInvestment/Pages/default0
1.aspx
|
| Tourism Development Corporations (TDCs) |
|
| SCTA Initiatives to establishing the
National Holding Tourism Development Company in order to
accelerate the development of the tourism sector in the Kingdom
and support tourism development and investments; the Company
will assume the functions of planning, development, and
investment attractions in order to achieve the national
socio-economic development goals, through preparing the plans to
develop tourism sites, identify investment opportunities,
develop investment incentives models, and competitively market
those investment opportunities among qualified private sector
investors in line with the privatization policy adopted in the
Kingdom. The Company is supposed to have the necessary
flexibility to establish other companies either alone or jointly
with others.
www.scta.gov.sa/en/TourismInvestment/SupportTourismInvestment/Pages/default0
1.aspx
|
| The Saudi Tourism Professional
Associations |
|
| Setting up professional associations
in the hospitality and tourism sector, which would work as
principal partners of the state. SCTA prepared a draft of the
model articles of the associations and submitted the same to the
Experts Bureau at the Council of Ministers for study. The start
will be to set up three main associations namely; the Saudi
Association for Travel Agents & Tourism, the Saudi Association
for Tour Guides, and the Saudi Association for Tour Operators
Accommodation.
|
| Photopedia |
|
| The Photopedia application viewing
images and slideshows of different heritage sites in the Kingdom
of Saudi Arabia. |
| Tourism Navigator App for iPhone & iPad |
|
| The SCTA mobile applications aim to
locate and get information about tourist places of interest in
the Kingdom. Through smart phones and tablet computers, one will
find different virtual tours and photos representing the Saudi
Arabia. SCTA currently using The virtual 360 panorama tours
application . |
| TGIS (Tourism Geographic Information
System) |
|
| This site is an integrated
information reference for tourists about the Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia, in order to show the historical, touristic , cultural
position of the Kingdom, and to facilitate the circulation of
the geographic tourism information, as well as to help the
tourist and visitor to know the historical sites and monuments
and the services provided prior to his visit; interactive
tourist maps were developed and published on the Internet, so
that the web browser can search for a particular site, and
request a detailed map of the place of destination.
www.mas.gov.sa
|
| TSA (Tourism Satellite Account recognized
by UNWTO) |
|
| A Tourism Satellite Account (TSA) is
a statistical accountant framework in the field of tourism and
measures the goods and services according to international
standards of concepts, classifications and definitions which
allow valid comparisons from country to country in a consistent
manner. A complete TSA contains detailed production accounts of
the tourism industry and their linkages to other industries,
employment, capital formation and additional non- monetary
information on tourism.
www.mas.gov.sa
|
| Tourism Information Centers |
|
| At present, fifteen tourism
information centers are under construction. These centers will
be at points which are heavily visited by the public, such as
airports, and mega malls. Currently there are tourism
information centers at King Khalid International Airport in
Riyadh, Al-Maddinah Al-Munawara Airport, and Hail Airport.
Moreover, 12 other centers will be established by the end of
this year. These centers provide the required tourism
information, promotional publications, electronic information
such as maps, brochures, floppy disks, and others with the
possibility of presenting all information related to tourism
services, like accommodation (hotels, furnished apartments),
transportation (renting cars, airlines), tourism services
providers (tours, adventures, diving, and others), activities
and events, tourist attractions (museums, commercial centers,
restaurants) and others. The information centers are equipped in
several shapes and different sizes like kiosks, counters, and
stands of the existing buildings, in addition to independent
buildings and head offices which will be established in the next
phases.
|
| Tourism Call Center |
 |
| The Saudi Commission for Tourism &
Antiquities has launched a tourism phone service for the first
time in the Kingdom and the Middle East. The aim of this project
is to support the local tourism, promote information about the
different tourism events and activities, encourage the family
tourism trips, reveal the different tourism entertaining
patterns, guide the tourists toward the accommodation facilities
such as hotels, furnished apartments, other entertaining
centers, shopping centers and restaurants, as well as supporting
the tourism products marketing, promoting efforts and getting
closer to the local tourists and learn about their expectations
and impressions. It is an information center that aims to
contribute in providing many choices for the tourists who desire
to know about the seasonal offers in the hotels, furnished
apartments, amusement parks, tourism events and shopping
centers. It also receives the complaints and remarks of both
residents and citizens about different tourism services
regarding the events, activities and even the governmental
services that support the tourism activities all year round.
|
| Tourism Media Convoy |
|
| Is a tourism marketing tool for the
tourism services providers to promote touristic packages
provided by tour operators (trips, accommodation, transportation
& visits) in business centers & hotels.
|
| Events Calendar |
|
| Event Calendar is the calendar of
the events in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, It is up-to-date and
nicely presented, this calendar contains a lot of new features
such as Google map so that visitors can know the events
location. The site contains an address book to save all the
people who are interested in any event, as well as containing an
invite and reminder features. The visitor can fill the new event
form to be published in the calendar after being approved by the
admin. This site also contains reports and event materials to
help the tourist to know about the events in details. All the 13
regions in KSA are covered by this site. Daily, weekly, monthly
and yearly views are available.
http://event.sct.gov.sa/Cal/Default.aspx
|
| Cooperation Agreements |
|
| Partnership methodology initiatives
aim to overcome the obstacles to the implementation of the
overall strategy for national tourism development in
coordination with relevant sectors. SCTA Board of Directors
(BoD) adopted a partnership public/private initiatives in
(2003). The cooperation agreements were adopted as a mechanism
for fostering partnership between SCTA and all the stakeholders
in the tourism industry. The implementation of the national
Tourism Strategic Plan required a high level of cooperation and
coordination among all the parties involved, in order to achieve
the desired goals. Accordingly, SCTA began working with its
partners under the framework of cooperation using the
cooperation agreements as means to activate the role of each
party. To date, SCTA has signed more than 60 cooperation
agreements with partners from the private and the public sectors
who have direct and indirect responsibility for developing the
Tourism industry. The success of these agreements was reflected
in SCTA's ability to accomplish many of the large and
complicated programs with high level of efficiency and achieving
effective results. These include: • Cooperation Program with
Trusts and Municipalities. • Cooperation Program with local
Universities (7).
www.scta.gov.sa/en/GeneralStrategy/Pages/CooperationAgreements.aspx
|
| Tourism Sites Preparation Program |
|
| Because there are more than 1000
potential tourism site that are able to be developed, approved
by the council of SCTA, and rich of natural and heritage
characteristics. And because many of such sites considered as
attractions headed by local and national visitors throughout the
Kingdom, despite the lack of basic services and guides. The
provision of minimum level of services and public facilities in
such sites is a must in order to meet the requirements of its
visitors. From this point, the Tourism Sites Preparation Program
has been proposed, and considered as a starting point for
directing available financial resources in order to prepare
these sites and promote tourism investment. The project has been
implemented during the last three years as follows: 2009: 30
sites have been prepared according to mechanism I. 2010: 66
sites have been prepared according to mechanism II. 2011: 26
sites have been prepared according to mechanisms I and II. The
program has achieved large gains especially that partners became
presenting at SCTA asking for designs and executive documents to
develop their sites, they then will implement their sites or
offer them for investment. Therefore, it was necessary to
promote investors after the completion of public partners,
through the application of mechanism III in 2012.
|
| Tourism Destinations Development:
Al-Ugair Tourism Destination |
|
| Al-Uqair coastal area was identified
as a priority development area in the National Tourism
Development strategy and the Eastern Province Tourism
Development Strategy. In 2005 SCTA commissioned a specialized
firm in destination development to prepare the development plans
of Al-Uqair as the first mixed-use, self-contained, and
sustainable coastal tourism destination in the Kingdom with
attractions for a wide range of visitors. Based on the approval
of the Supreme Economic Council, SCTA is working with Al-Hassa
Municipality and the Ministry of Finance to create Al-Uqair
Development Company (ADC) as a joint stock company to be the
commercial entity entrusted with the development of Al-Uqair.
ADC will be a public private partnership that will plan, develop
infrastructure, build and operate anchor projects, and manage
the destination’s development. The government will contribute
100 million square meters of raw land at a concessional price
and portion of the capital, while the developers/ investors
would bring in additional funds and the knowhow. Al-Uqair will
establish a model for the development of other tourism
destinations in the Kingdom.
|
| Tourism Destinations Development: The Red
Sea Tourism Strategy |
 |
| In December 2004 SCTA began working
on developing a comprehensive strategic plan to develop the
coastal area of the Red Sea in the western part of the Kingdom.
The strategy, approved in 2008 by the Ministers' council,
covered a wide range of development projects that would make the
Red Sea Coastal area one of the main destinations sought by
tourists from within the Kingdom and abroad. The task of the Red
Sea Tourism Strategy is to identify the role that can be engaged
by the Red Sea and its associated coastal zone in the Kingdom’s
drive to establish a modern and sustainable tourism industry.
The aim of the plan is to address the combined issues of tourism
potential and coastal conservation in an integrated way that
seeks to exploit areas of mutual benefit as well as mitigate or
avoid any areas of potential conflict. |
| Regional Tourism Development Strategies |
|
| Part of enacting the implementation
of the National Strategy and the strategic plans, SCTA devised
detailed plans for developing Tourism in all the regions of the
Kingdom. These plans have been endorsed by SCTA's Board and are
part of the five-year execution plan developed by SCTA which
runs in parallel to the Kingdom's Five-Year Development Plan
(2009-2014). SCTA is focusing through these plans on empowering
SCTA's branches in the regions to play a key role in developing
Tourism, thus capitalizing the strengths and activities of local
tourism for promoting local identities in the regions. SCTA has
worked on empowering the regions to develop Tourism by
establishing Local Tourism Organizations (LTOs) one in each area
of the Kingdom. Each LTO is chaired and governed by top
government official as well as by key figures from the community
and the private sector. Additionally, the LTOs are supported by
PTOs (Provincial Tourism Organizations) which are entities
directed, funded, and manned by SCTA to help the Tourism Council
of the area it operates within to achieve its goal of developing
Tourism in the area based on a well-defined and realistic
strategic plan, and to autonomously run the activities
associated with developing and managing local Tourism in an
effective and efficient manner. For example, in its 2nd Council
meeting last year Al Ahsa Tourism Council requested King Faisal
University, being represented in the Council by its President,
to participate in creating a 10-year Strategic Tourism Plan for
Al Ahsa. Accordingly the University formed a team to work on
this request. |
| General Tourism Strategy |
|
| Since its establishment in 2000, the
SCTA has started working on preparing a 20-year national
strategy and a plan for developing Tourism in the Kingdom. The
work, which started in March 2001 and finished in April 2002,
involved the participation of all the stakeholders in the
tourism sector from both public and private sectors, as well as
benefitting from the expertise of more than 200 local and
international experts in Tourism. The national plan, which is to
be fulfilled in 2020, taking into consideration the Kingdom's
leadership vision for tourism, which emphasizes the previous,
while Tourism in the Kingdom should become a major contributor
in enhancing a sustainable growth in the national economy in
terms of scope and scale, its development must take into
consideration the Kingdom's religious and historic status of
being the cradle of Islam and the meeting point of all
civilizations. Accordingly, the preservation of the teachings of
Islam & Islamic values, and the promotion of the Arabian rituals
and heritage are the major cornerstones of the national
strategy. |
| MAS - Tourism Information & Research
Center |
 |
| The Saudi Commission for Tourism &
Antiquities' MAS Center collects data &information and conducts
researches concerning the tourism sector in Saudi Arabia. All
the collected data &information is saved in a highly secured
electronic data base. This method facilitates the process of
classifying, analyzing and publishing the information in a user
friendly approach. This Center serves the needs of investors,
operators, researchers, public Sector, international
organizations, and tourists. To meet all needs the Center has
published booklets, CDs and a website (www.mas.gov.sa).
Among the most important reports produced by MAS Center are: •
Quarterly Tourism Monitor. • Annual Tourism Report. • Tourism
Services Guide. One of the key research projects conducted by
MAS is related to Identifying the Economic, Social, and Cultural
Impact of Tourism. MAS conducts this research in conjunction
with SCTA's partners to monitor the impacts of tourism on local
communities. The aim is to determine future projections and the
actual effects of different policies for the development of the
tourism sector.
www.mas.gov.sa
|
| TOURISM EXCELLENCE Awards |
 |
| The award aims at recognizing the
efforts of individuals and organizations which makes the effort
and investment to improve their tourism products and services.
|
| TAKAMUL |
 |
| The project’s mission is to augment
the rate of Saudization for tourism occupations by motivating
tourism education and training, embracing occupational
competencies and standards to upgrade performance in the tourism
industry, overcome obstacles and provide propelling incentives
to develop the national human resources.
www.scta.gov.sa/en/Programs-
Activities/Programs/Pages/Takamul.aspx
|
| تمكيــــن(Arabic expression for
Enablement) |
 |
| This is a long-term strategic
initiative lately launched by the SCTA to support partners'
potentials in the different provinces of the Kingdom (public and
private sectors, educational institutions, local
communities...etc) enabling them to lead the process of tourism
development and benefit from it. Additionally , giving them the
opportunity to manage their own provinces and to perform a
higher role in the future within the geographic and
organizational framework of the region.
www.scta.gov.sa/en/Programs-
Activities/Programs/Pages/TamkeenProgram.aspx
|
| Responsible Development |
 |
| SCTA aims by this initiative to
commend the efforts of partners in the tourism industry,
highlight the most important areas of cooperation reached with
them, and change the erroneous impression prevailing among the
target audience. The slogan is used now on all SCTA's printed
materials as well as on the electronic correspondences. The aim
is to keep in mind the awareness of shared responsibility in
delivering what will contribute to building the tourism industry
as a key economic, social and cultural resource for the Kingdom.
www.scta.gov.sa/en/mediaCenter/ResponsibleDevelopment/Pages/default.aspx
|
| Tareeq AlTawheed |
|
| The most historic roads in the
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; to its close as the founder of the
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia - King Abdulaziz, may God rest his soul
- and the diversity and richness of cultural and environmental
components. To activate this road tourist General Authority for
Tourism and Antiquities of the contract with King Abdul Aziz
Foundation to print brochures are indicative of the historical
sites and archaeological sites on this road, editing and
drafting of information material in which both Arabic and
English, and to provide training courses in the tourist guides
geared for tourist guides, accredited by the Commission.
|
| Cultural dimension initiative |
|
| Through the adoption of the cultural
dimension initiative SCTA seeks to make a fundamental shift in
the monuments, museums and urban heritage, preserving the
national cultural heritage, rehabilitating and developing it as
a social responsibility which every citizen should contribute
in. Local communities are to be part of and participate in all
the matters related to heritage and to enable them to play a
vital role. The initiative also aims to promote the sense of
belonging to the Kingdoms Islamic cultural heritage,
rehabilitate and train national capacities to be able to
preserve & develop the national cultural heritage.
www.scta.gov.sa/Antiquities-
Museums/CulturalDimension/Pages/default.aspx
|
| Reclaiming Antiquities taken outside the
Kingdom |
|
| Recovery of over 14,000
archaeological artifacts which were taken from the Kingdom. • An
international conference and exhibition for recovered objects to
be organized under the patronage of King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz.
• Increase Protection of Archeological Sites. • Sites Observer
Program (round-the-clock observation). • Reclamation of
Archeological sites owned by the private sector to halt illegal
exploitation of Artifacts. • Develop the awareness of owners of
Private Antiquities. • A plan is being implemented to recover
illegally exported antiquities. • A media campaign has been
launched to raise awareness and stop illegal export of
antiquities. • In addition to protecting the Islamic sites in
Mekkah and Medina
|
| International representation |
|
| • UNWTO. • UNESCO & WHC. • Arab
Tourism Organization (ATO). • Arab Minstrel Council for Tourism-
league of Arab States. • Organization of the Islamic conference
(OIC). • The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)The secretariat
General.
|
| GOLDEN OPTIC Award |
 |
| Aims to encourage photography in the
touristic sites, highlights the Kingdom's tourism potentials.
Documenting and following up the development by periodically
holding this award and formulating a photo database as well,
which could be used in media materials, supports the art of
photography, and highlights the new Saudi photographers
capabilities.
|
| The photo Atlas for Tourism & Antiquities
education |
|
| Aims to acknowledge students and
introduce them to the Saudi tourism through introductory maps
and data. |
| Sports Festivals |
|
| For the first time in Riyadh a
festival of marine sports and competitions was held in May 2011
under the patronage of HRH Prince Bandar bin Nasir bin Abdul
Aziz. It was organized by the Saudi Arabian Marine Federation in
collaboration with SCTA, Ar-Riyadh Development Authority (ADA),
and the General Presidency of Youth Welfare (GPYW). |
| A GIFT FROM SAUDI |
 |
| Online marketing of heritage
products: The SCTA is working with the Saudi Post on this
initiative. The collaboration aims to market handicrafts and
heritage products made by individual artisans, women's
associations and craft production centers. The initiative also
aims to increase productive families' income by encouraging and
helping them by electronically marketing their products through
a website called E-Mall .
www.e-mall.com.sa
|
| بـــارع |
 |
| In 2004 SCTA has introduced a
national program for developing handicrafts and traditional
industries to twenty thousand artisans Kingdom wide. The aim of
this program is to make this important tourism resource an
economically viable sector which shall contribute in supporting
the implementation of the national strategy for combating
poverty, unemployment, and reducing the migration of people from
urban villages to major cities. The major accomplishment of this
program: • The development of a National Handicraft Strategy. •
A phased execution program for Handicrafts and traditional
industries. • Training Programs (45) courses (1502) Trainee both
male and female. The establishment of permanent Regional Head
Quarters (8).
|
| Souk Okaz Prize for Handicrafts |
 |
| This is an annual prize initiated by
SCTA encouraging creativity and innovation within the Saudi
handicrafts sector for identifying professional artisans and
encourage them for further innovation as well as developing
their skills in the handicrafts field. SCTA has established an
Activities Program in the Urban Heritage site numbering more
than (50) activity. It also organized a festivals program
containing more than (80) festivals. |
| The International Conference for Tourism
and Handicrafts in the Islamic world |
 |
| SCTA organized during the period
16-23, Shawwal, 1427H (7-14, November, 2006), the first
international conference dealing with the issue of handicrafts
from a Tourism perspective. The topics of the conference
included cultural, heritage, economic aspects of handicrafts,
quality, innovation, creativity, experiencing the new ideas, and
innovative designs. In addition, the topics of the conference
comprised training, teaching, raising the craftsmen's
qualifications, and investing all of the above in a Tourism
perspective. The conference was held in the city of Riyadh, and
was accompanied by several vital events such as: • Live
craftsmen exhibits from the Islamic world. • Exhibition on
Magnificent Handicrafts of the Islamic World. • (Bazaar) of
handicrafts souq. • A Book Exhibition with albums, catalogues,
and issued in the field of handicrafts from the Islamic world. •
Organizing an international prize for innovation in handicrafts
for the creative artisans from the Islamic world.
|
| International and Local Exhibitions |
|
| SCTA organized numerous local
exhibitions from (2009) till now, including: • the Archeology
Exhibition of the Gulf Cooperation Council member states in
Riyadh. • organizing a photographic exhibition for the Custodian
of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah ibn Abdul Aziz. and
another for the Crown Prince Sultan ibn Abdul Aziz commemorating
and celebrating their return. • Arabian Routes: Saudi
Archeological Masterpieces Through the Ages. A traveling
exhibition through a number of famous museums in Europe, the
United States, and Asia, such as the Louvre in Paris, and the
Hermitage in St. Petersburg, La Caixa Foundation in Barcelona
and the Pergamon Museum in Berlin in shedding the light on the
historic position of the Kingdom, acquainting the world with the
Kingdom's cultural dimension, highlighting the particular
importance of the antiquities of Saudi Arabia to understand the
chain of human history and the current progress witnessed in the
Kingdom. Showcasing a large number of archaeological finds of
exceptional importance, that are exhibited for the first time
abroad, comes as an extension of the Kingdom’s international
presence and its eminent position in Islam as the host country
of the Two Holy Mosques, its current economic weight and its
significant impact on human communication that rests heavily due
to the Kingdom’s unique geographical location, which makes it
the major economic and cultural hub, as well as a communication
bridge between the East and West . (www.scta.gov.sa/en/AntiquitiesMuseums/ArcheologicalMasterpieces/Pages/defau
lt.aspx) SCTA also executed the first Archeological
Exhibition for the returned artifacts. And it is working now on
a new exhibition relating to Hajj and the two Holy Mosques to be
held in the British Museum in (2012) as well as The First
international Conference and Exhibition for the Retrieval of
Cultural Properties (in 2012).
|
| Heritage Villages Development Project |
|
| The Heritage villages development
Program aims to preserve the Architectural and Urban Heritage
and secure sustainable development for the heritage villages in
respect to all interactive social and economical activities and
maintain the characteristics of its traditional architecture of
these villages and contribute to the promotion of the standard
of life of the local communities. The Program in its first phase
taken on seven traditional villages, and they are: • AL-Ghatt
Traditional Village in Riyadh. • Jubbah Traditional Village in
Hail. • Dhi Ayn in Al-Baha. • Rijal Almaa in Assir. •
Traditional Village of Al-Ula in Al-Madina Al- Munawara. •
Al-Muznib traditional village in Al-Qassim. • Al- Khabra
traditional village in Al-Qassim.
|
| The Treaty for preserving Urban Heritage
in Arab and Islamic countries |
|
| According to the Resolution of the
Council of Tourism Ministers of the Arab League in (1424H), a
charter was signed to preserve the Urban Heritage in the Arab
and Islamic countries. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was invited
to study, prepare and make arrangements for this charter and
present to the Council of Ministers. In co- operation with
specialists from the Arab countries such as: Jordan, Morocco and
Egypt, SCTA prepared a draft accord to take necessary
arrangements to complete and finalize formalities. In the 3rd
meeting of Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC) held in
Riyadh in 2002, a resolution was passed by the member states
regarding the preservation of urban heritage. The Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia was asked to prepare an accord which was later
signed by the Council of the Tourism Ministers of the Islamic
countries in Senegal in 2005.
|
| The 1st International Conference for
Urban Heritage in the Islamic Countries |
 |
| This conference and the accompanying
events were held in Riyadh from 23 to 28 May 2010 under the
patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. Tourism
ministers and commissions from member States in the Organization
of Islamic Conference (OIC) participated in this forum as well
as the private organizations, businessmen, chambers of commerce,
and others. |
|
The conference main objectives are: |
|
• Assessing the current state of urban and architectural
heritage in Islamic countries, and identifying a framework
for future development of their economic, social and
cultural opportunities.
|
|
• Developing a cooperation strategy among Islamic States
regarding the maintenance and function of architectural
heritage buildings and villages.
|
|
• Highlighting the importance of cultural, economic, social
and tourism factors of urban and architectural heritage, as
a key sector of development in Islamic countries.
|
|
As a result the following are being achieved : |
|
• Launching the 1st National Forum for Urban Heritage.
|
|
• Establishing a national center for urban heritage as well
as a center for urban architect.
|
|
www.islamicurbanheritage.org.sa/NewsIndexAr.aspx
|
| The Protection of Urban Heritage |
 |
| The establishment of the National
Center for Urban Heritage, a specialized center aiming to halt
the random destruction of Urban Heritage components, SCTA is
currently working to issue a special ordinance for the
protection of national urban heritage. |
| Historic & Archeological Sites
interpretation |
|
| SCTA has erected a number of Visitor
centers in Prominent archeological and Historic sites, such as:
Djabal Um-Sanman in Jubbah, Al-Khuraiba in Al-Ula, Al-Shnana
Tower in Al-Rass, Maghair Shu’ayb in Al-Bidea, Beer Saisara in
Al-Jawf. It also rehabilitated a number of archeological and
cultural sites on Tourism Routs (70 sites). Also the
establishment of field museums in Al-Raka site in Al-Khobar, and
Marduma and Allid in Jubail. SCTA has also rehabilitated (7)
historic routes, in addition to World Hertiage sites in Madaen
Saleh and Adderiyah, and established a second list to include:
Domat Al-Jandal (Adomato), Maghair Shuayb, Rock art sites in
Jubbah and Al-Shwaimes in Hail, and Rock art sites in Beer Hima
in Najran. SCTA has also unveiled (2) new important historic
sites, that will also will be presented to the public in the
near future: • The Royal Cartouche of Ramsis III near Tayma.
www.scta.gov.sa/en/antiquities-
museums/archeologicaldiscovery/Pages/ArcheologicalDiscovery.aspx
• Al-Magar Site in Wadi Addawasir.
www.scta.gov.sa/en/Antiquities-
Museums/ArcheologicalDiscovery/Pages/Al-Magar.aspx
|
| Historic City Centers Program |
|
| Developing historic city centers and
promoting them in the Tourism industry is a corner stone of
SCTA's general Tourism strategy. Restoring the original historic
identity of a city is a key factor in stimulating many
activities which promote the city's culture and heritage, hence
maximizing attraction for local tourism. SCTA has embarked on a
number of projects to improve the historic identities of many
major cities and locations in the Kingdom by collaborating with
the Ministry for Municipality and Rural Affairs. These projects
included restoring the historic centers in Addiriyah, Jeddah,
Abha, Al-Hufoof, Al-Majma'ah, Taif (restoring the traditional
markets), and the Red sea axis (includes in its first phase the
towns of Yanbu, Dhuba, Umluj, and Al-Wajh in collaboration with
the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu)
|
| لا يطيــح Don't Let it Fall |
 |
| This is a specialized training
programs aiming to involve local communities in preserving and
protecting Urban Heritage Buildings. This program requires
closely working with local communities on the possible means for
restoring heritage and historic buildings and converting them
into viable income generating sources as well as promoting the
Kingdom’s attributes of rich heritage and culture. It includes
the following: • Specialized Training programs for specialists
and enthusiasts in Urban Heritage. • International and Local
Seminars and Symposia Program in the field of Urban Heritage. •
Best Practice Visits for Governors, Municipal Heads, and
Trustees. • Training Programs for workers in the private sector
engaged in Urban Heritage projects. • Handicrafts training
program for specialists and enthusiasts aimed at the local
communities for protecting and developing local Urban Heritage.
• Training Architecture and Urban Planning college students on
the design and execution of Renovation and rehabilitation
projects. • Joint training programs with the Ministry of
Education.
|
| THAMEEN(Arabic expression for Precious) |
 |
| This initiative is a fast track
program aims to develop and rehabilitate the urban heritage
sites in the Kingdom. It was adopted by SCTA in cooperation with
a number of partners from government agencies and local
communities across heritage towns and villages in the Kingdom.
|
| SCAT's Research Program |
 |
| SCTA's Research Program aims to
provide financial support as a significant means to stimulate
scientific research in tourism and antiquities field, in order
to enrich knowledge in this area, and to create a strong
relationship with research and scientific research centers in
Saudi universities, and to exchange experiences in the field of
tourism and antiquities.
www.mas.gov.sa
|
| Leave No Trace |
 |
| The "Leave No Trace" program is a
national initiative sponsored by the Saudi Commission for
Tourism and Antiquities to develop responsible eco-tourism. The
general aim is to reduce the damage caused by the activities of
the trips and camping in natural areas, without affecting the
pleasure of visitors and tourists and the ecotourism trips
enthusiasts. Developing responsible tourism in the natural areas
is one of the patterns supported by the SCTA through adopting
this program to entrench the principles of positive behavior in
the tours to natural areas, to enjoy their flora and fauna and
geological and archaeological elements and landscapes, and to
contribute in benefiting the local community from the
eco-tourism activity, along with preserving those areas. "Leave
No Trace" program trains the hikers & visitors of the natural
areas to implement the seven principles of LNT program while
enjoying eco-tourism as follows: • Pre-planning of ecotourism
trips. • Pre-selection of proper tour paths, as well as camping
and accommodations sites. • Disposal of waste in the proper
manner. • Reducing the negative impacts of igniting fire •
Proper treatment of all kinds of wildlife. • No touching or
removal of components of the natural and archaeological sites,
and leaving them unchanged. • Respecting the feelings of locals,
and other visitors.
www.scta.gov.sa/en/Programs-
Activities/Programs/Pages/LeaveNoTrace.aspx
|
| EJAZATI SAUDIA Award |
|
| The aim of this award is the
exploration of new tourist attraction areas in the Kingdom and
to highlight its touristic diversity. The competition is to
write detailed reports as photographic and video diary on the
family's vacation program and their interaction with the daily
touristic and recreational activities available in the cities of
the competition. |
| Tourism Marketing Partnership Program |
|
| This program aims at constituting an
integrative system through which both private and public sectors
contribute and work together to assist KSA tourist positioning,
to generate more tourism revenues for partners, and to develop
adequate and competitive local tourist products and services.
This program works on the national level and the provincial one.
Mega Saudi companies are to take part on the national level and
fund certain marketing initiatives with SCTA via win-win
situation, and thus developing tourism and their products as
well. On the provincial level, local committees are to be
constituted to promote these provinces as destinations with the
support of SCTA and the local tourism service providers. |
| STTIM – The Saudi Travel & Tourism
Investment Market |
 |
| STTIM is considered one of the most
important annual events organized by SCTA in the Kingdom since
2008 and takes place by the end of March in every year since
then.This B2B and B2C allows the key partners in the tourism
industry from both public and private sectors to meet on a
single platform. It mainly focuses on a number of issues which
impact the Saudi tourism industry and the related initiatives
such as reviewing the investment opportunities throughout
tourism facilities and services, and making the public and
visitors fully aware about local tourism services providers'
initiatives and products in addition to holding an accompanying
exhibition on tourism industry in the Kingdom.
www.scta.gov.sa/en/Programs- Activities/STTIM/Pages/default.aspx
www.sttim.com.sa
|
| IBTASIM(Arabic expression for Smile) |
 |
| Is one of the partnership projects
between SCTA and the Ministry of Education aiming to raise the
awareness of tourism among students of intermediate and
secondary stages and their families in order to raise a
generation with positive tourism concepts and practices. In 2008
Ibtasim was awarded the World Tourism Organization's award for
innovation “ULYSSES PRIZE”. The initiative in its private phase
was implemented by training trainers , 65 trainers have been
selected from the Kingdom’s regions and provinces subjected to a
training program for five days. 2600 Teachers have been trained
for two training days in different regions of the Kingdom during
the first semester of school year 1426/1427H and their selection
was according to training standards and scientific methodology.
Schools were the most appropriate location to achieve the goals
of the program, through giving students the chance interact with
tourism as a part of their school activities. Up to today and
during the five years of the program's implementation, 362.000
students have already been trained and the more to come, 50.000
of the students were girls.
www.scta.gov.sa/en/Programs-
Activities/Programs/Pages/Smile.aspx
|
| Tourism Enriches |
 |
| The launch of ''Tourism Enriches''
program represents an important turning point in the tourism
awareness field among the community of Saudi Arabia. The
construction of this program was based on a proposal presented
by the World Tourism Organization on its website; the SCTA has
reformed this program in a more educational way that is
presented in a form of awareness workshops, then to invite
government and civil leaders to it who belong to the local
communities where the workshop is implemented. SCTA works
through this program with the local communities to raise the
awareness of tourism to enhance the positive effect on it,
working on enabling the local communities to invest its
available tourism constituents, and guiding its abilities as
individuals and groups to make the most of the promising
opportunities that are provided by the tourism sector for the
present and the future generation, as well as the awareness of
the importance of maintaining the antiquities, and spreading the
museum culture. For this purpose many workshops have been held
since the launch of this program. In 2008, 741 were trained from
various regions and 1589 people were in 2009 and 650 people
between 2010 and 2011. |
|
Program Objectives: |
|
• Enabling the local communities to invest its available
tourism constituents.
|
|
• Razing the awareness of local communities of the positive
effects of tourism industry.
|
|
• Encouraging the local communities to work in the tourism
industry.
|
|
• Contributing in creating job opportunities and improving
the income.
|
|
• Contributing in maintaining the antiquities.
|
|
The questionnaires that were distributed among participants
in the workshops showed that 66, 8% believed that tourism
has a direct positive impact on local communities; there was
a near consensus about the need of local communities for
more awareness regarding tourism. And 96, 5% of the
participants in the workshops and their family members will
accept working in the tourism field when job opportunities
are available
www.scta.gov.sa/en/Programs-
Activities/Programs/Pages/TourismEnriches.aspx
|
| Tourism Gate |
 |
| In 2003 SCTA launched a website
specifically designed for Tourism in the Kingdom (www.sauditourism.com.sa).
This website contains important information on Tourism in the
Kingdom that can help people plan their touristic activities.
This is why SCTA has updated the website in 2007 and linking it
to the Tourism Calendar site (www.event.scta.gov.sa),
as well as the National Tourism Call Center. The aim was to
provide users a comprehensive service of information on Tourism,
and also to give the private sector the opportunity to advertise
Tourism products and services for the public. |