6th tourism, travel forum launched in Riyadh

Riyadh Gov. Prince Khaled bin Bandar inaugurated last night the Sixth Saudi Forum on Travel and Tourism Investment at Riyadh International Exhibition and Conference Centre in the presence of Prince Sultan bin Salman, chairman of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) and a number of senior Saudi officials and businessmen.
The five-day hospitality event is organized by SCTA yearly to highlight local tourism potential and the promising investment in the sector.
The event will address private sector as key players in upgrading services and offering various programs for Saudi tourists that would open the way for the growth of supply of services and programs and contribute to the reduction of prices.
The exhibition will occupy an area of more than 11,000 square meters, an increase of 20 percent from last year. More than 160 companies and travel tourism destination companies are participating.
“Some major decisions by the government will be announced during the event that would support investments in this sector for streamlining the services and infrastructure facilities,” Prince Sultan said.
He added: “This year we expect some crucial decisions from the leadership and will announce these decisions at the upcoming event.”
The minister of planning and economy addressed the opening ceremony.
STCA will organize a number of tours for the participants and visitors including daily visit to a number of cultural and historical sites in Riyadh.
There will be four workshops on various issues in tourism-integrated experience. In addition, there will be eight workshops on tourism day investments.
According to STCA website, the commission has awarded 14 licenses for tourist services and facilities over the past month to reach a total number of tourism licenses at 6,869 since 2009.
General Department of Licenses and Quality also said that there are a total of 209 tour operators working through 263 offices. In addition, SCTA awarded five licenses to travel agencies, bringing the number of travel agencies licensed to 410.