Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) gave the tourism sector a boost with the announcement that it will issue new regulations aimed at streamlining the operation of hotels and furnished apartments.   The tourism body, which has the power to issue or cancel operational permits for tourist facilities and hotels, said it will also pay about SR19 million to take over four important archeological sites, which will be restored and developed for tourism. 

SCTA Vice President Ali bin Ibrahim Al-Ghabban, said “Payments have been made on the instructions of Prince Sultan bin Salman, SCTA’s chief.” Al-Ghabban said the four archeological sites are Zubaida and Al-Mulgata in Onaiza municipality, Ethra Palace in Al-Jouf, and Eain Qanas in Al-Ahsa.  He said the SCTA is working at restoring, reconstructing, and maintaining 200 archeological sites around the country. Another SCTA official said the SCTA has initiated a project to classify and monitor the performance of tourism facilities, including hotels and furnished apartments.