NTP approves SR26bn tourism initiatives

BOOSTING TOURISM: Among the initiatives is post-Umrah trips to heritage and Islamic sites such as the Uhud Mountain.

RIYADH: The National Transformation Program approved 13 initiatives to support the agenda of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage at a cost of more than SR26 billion.
Initiatives include various programs that represent and support the national strategy for the development of tourism and heritage and extensions of previous efforts and programs of the commission.
Prince Sultan bin Salman, president of the commission, said the leader of the National Transformation Program is keen on improving the tourism and national heritage sector and will pay close attention to national heritage sites as a pillar of the Kingdom’s national identity and culture. The National Transformation Program supports and builds on several initiatives, such as the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Program for the Care of National Heritage and Culture, and allocates funding to develop national heritage and culture sites and programs, including 17 handicrafts centers, 18 heritage sites, 18 museums, 80 historical sites, and six new UNESCO heritage sites.
Additional support and funding will go to the development of museums and exhibitions that were previously approved but were awaiting funding, as well as the development of tourist sites such as Jazr Forsan, Souk Okaz city in Taif, Al-Ula and Al-Ra’as Al-Abyadh in Madinah.
Other initiatives include programs for lending to hotel, tourism and heritage projects, in cooperation with the Ministry of Finance, to the tune of SR3 billion over five years. Interest-free loans will be provided to investors working in tourism projects. A tourism marketing council, to be founded with private sector participation, will manage and develop a range of tourism products, activities and marketing tools to support the sector, including exhibitions and conferences. Funding will be provided through tourism fees collected from clients by hotels.
A Saudi holding company for development and tourism investment will oversee the establishment of special entities to develop and attract further investment for the sector. Other initiatives include post-Umrah trips to heritage and Islamic sites.