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Sultan bin Salman: Citizens through dedication and honesty are the real builders of their homeland
aTP- Arab tourism portal News- Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdul Aziz, President of SCTH, Sunday, received in his office at the National Heritage Sector, in the King Abdul Aziz Historical Center in Riyadh, the Minister of Transport, Chairman of the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), Sulaiman bin Abdullah Al Hamdan.
During the meeting they discussed the programs and areas of cooperation between the two organizations and ways to develop them.
Prince Sultan bin Salman, President of SCTH along with the Minister of Transport signed an agreement of integration between the two sides in the presence of the Board of Directors of SCTH.
At the outset of the meeting, President of SCTH welcomed the Minister of Transport, praising his attention and support to the tourism and national heritage sectors, which constitute as the important economic and developmental hubs, and commended his efforts for the integration between SCTH and the GACA.
In a press statement following the signing ceremony, President of SCTH expressed his appreciation for the effective and distinguished partnership, which has already been transformed into a full integration program between the two organizations. referred to the concrete fruits of this partnership, especially in the establishment of a number of airports in several provinces in their main tourist destinations, also praised the efforts made by GACA in the establishment and development of a number of advanced airports in the Kingdom that will go a long way in supporting the tourism activities across the provinces.
president of SCTH in his statement added that, the Kingdom is witnessing a strategic integration between the tourism industry and the aviation industry, adding that SCTH and GACA are working according to a clear program of cooperation and integration in the implementation of a number of joint programs. SCTH is represented in the Board of Directors of GACA, and soon GACA will also be represented in the Board of Directors of SCTH.
Prince Sultan bin Salman further said that the cooperation between the two organizations will see a significant shift after the integration agreement is signed, which includes an executive work program for a number of important activities and projects.
“This is the first time we have defined it as a memorandum of understanding instead of an agreement of cooperation, because cooperation between the two organizations is already exists. Three years ago, SCTH began a new phase of enhancing wider integrated relations with its partners and our cooperation with the Ministry of Transport and the GACA is impressive, and we maintain persistent communications, that beside, SCTH has always strived to promote partnerships, and this is an approach since its inception.
SCTH president said that, SCTH and the Ministry of Transport are jointly working on mega projects to create roads and sites for local tourist service to serve the domestic tourists, and the citizens in the first place, as well as develop tourism sector, and develop and promote economy development sectors, cooperate with the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs, Ministry of Transport and Ministry of Interior for executing roads and roadside rest houses projects. So far six companies have been rehabilitated to work in this sector, he added.
In his statement stressed the importance of Saudi citizen as the main goal of all the efforts and plans of SCTH and he is the first beneficiary in all of them, as he deserves for a dignified and comfortable life, raise a family and develop himself and his abilities to contribute to the economy and nation building.
added, “Our country is blessed with many great riches and various opportunities, and the citizen must always be the first target in all areas of economic development. SCTH as a government body has been working with a number of ministries since its inception, and always focuses on the economic value and vital projects that serve the overall development of the country.”
SCTH and GACA are working together to create and develop a number of airports in accordance with the National Tourism Strategy, where several airports have already been established, such as Prince Abdul Majed Airport in Al Ula and the work is underway on other local airports at important tourism and heritage destinations.
"Over the past few years, the Kingdom has seen great achievements made by Saudi citizens, where no one has the right to say that Saudi citizens do not like to work and there is no progress and development. It is the citizens who brought about these achievements by their hard work and honesty, and no one but the citizens themselves who unified this country, who believe in Allah, and hold their State and the leadership in high esteem. We appreciate the role of the citizens who built this country and established security and stability, as homelands are not based on mere numbers but based on solid foundations and great values, and citizens will continue to do so," said.
For his part, the Minister of Transport and Chairman of GACA, Sulaiman bin Abdullah Al Hamdan, said, “The relationship between SCTH and GACA is integrated, and the agreement of cooperation that was signed between the two parties today is a documentation to this integrated relationship."
“GACA is responsible of several airports in the Kingdom and it will be the best tributary for the SCTH initiatives, as well as supporting its programs and efforts for the development of domestic tourism throughout the different parts of the Kingdom. We endeavor to become one of the best supporters of SCTH efforts, with SCTH having a representative in the Board of Directors of GACA”.
On the other hand, the agreement includes an executive work program which is designed to stimulate the national airlines to intensify domestic flights between different parts of the Kingdom around the year, especially during the peak times and tourist seasons in order to facilitate tourist movement to various provinces in the Kingdom, which contain many tourism and heritage destinations.
In the field of exhibitions and conferences, GACA supports all the exhibitions that are organized by SCTH and provides special services at the arrival and departure terminals for the participants of the exhibitions during the events.
