Saudi Arabia licenses two firms to manage tourism accommodation facilities

The Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTH) has licensed the first two firms to manage tourism accommodation facilities in the Kingdom.

The licenses were granted to a French firm and a local operator, SCTH said in a statement.

The Commission is seeking to license qualified local and foreign firms for the management of tourism accommodation facilities across the Kingdom.

SCTH aims to develop its mechanisms through regulating the sector and improving the relationship between the Commission, investor and tourists, Omar Al Mubarak, director general of licensing at SCTH, said.

The regulation mechanism will increase competition among hotel operators, and enhance hotel acquisition and management. It will also allow hotel owners to contract professional operators, so as to meet the specified classification criteria, Al Mubarak added.