Prince Sultan bin Salman heads the 35th meeting of the Board of Directors of SCTA
Almasalla Arab Travel Portal News –Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdul Aziz, President of SCTA, Last Sunday, 13th April, chaired the 35th meeting of the Board of Directors of Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities at the headquarters of the Commission in Riyadh.
Domestic tourism … a strategic choice for job creation: SCTA report:
The board at the outset of the meeting praised the Royal Decree No. (20166) dated 27/03/2014, regarding the approval of the recommendations of the Council of Ministers in its session held on 26/02/2014 about SCTA’s submitted report entitled "Domestic tourism is a strategic choice for creating jobs for citizens". The report was prepared by SCTA in collaboration with its partners in training and employment areas, the Ministry of Labor, Technical and Vocational Training Corporation (TVTC), Human Resource Development Fund, and the National System for Joint Training.
The board referred to the approval as an extension to State’s persistent care and support to the national tourism, which was recently reflected in a number of important resolutions that are expected to create great impact on SCTA’s underway or upcoming projects, programs and initiatives aiming at achieving a quantum leap in the promotion and development of national tourism.
Tourism Finance:
The board stressed that the national tourism development will not achieve the potential to meet the aspirations of the citizens, without real funding contributed to the motivation and leading to the development of tourism investment , which is the backbone of tourism in achieving the goals of national tourism, especially for the job creation.
Renewed congratulation to HRH Deputy Crown Prince:
The board reiterates its congratulations to His Royal Highness Prince Muqrin bin Abdul Aziz, on his attaining the trust and being appointed as the Deputy Crown Prince and Second Deputy Premier, praying to God Almighty to keep Saudi Arabia safe , stable and prosperous under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and HRH the Crown Prince ( may Allah protect them).
The board, on the other hand, honored the appointed members in the board at the end of their term of membership. The board expressed its appreciations and gratitude to their great contributions in the support of tourism and the national heritage over the past three years, and their efforts in the enrichment of board’s works as they were a part of many of the achievements made by SCTA for the interest of the national tourism.
Green Arabia Conference 2014:
The board shed light on the major themes of the speech of HRH SCTA President at the Green Arabia Conference 2014, which was organized by the Oxford University and opened on 2nd April, in the United Kingdom. In particular, the board focused on the emphasis made by HRH President of SCTA in his speech when he said "This project would not have been possible, or even reached this phase of understanding of Arabian Peninsula’s ancient civilizations, or the expansion made in the excavation missions, neither the great support paid to the sites of Islamic history, without God’s willingness and the great support of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz to the efforts of caring of the national heritage".
Also the board focused on HRH’s saying in his speech, "King Abdullah is the first inspirer to the efforts of caring of the national heritage and the persistent instructor of the study of the Saudi heritage, because he realizes that this country was not an incidental in the course of human history, and that its economic, religious, and political importance and distinction of its citizens in different walks of life is not an astonishing factor. So, ancient monuments are an evidence of superiority of the people of the Arabian Peninsula which was proven by the independent studies and confirmed by the scientific findings every day”.
Link to SCTA President’s speech at Green Arabia Conference 2014
www.scta.gov.sa
Exhibitions and conferences held by SCTA:
The board reviewed a number of reports on the exhibitions and conferences that were organized by SCTA during the last two months, which were as the following:
The Saudi Travel and Tourism Investment Market (STTIM-2014), was organized by SCTA under the patronage of HRH Governor of Riyadh from 30th March to 4th April, 2014 at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center. The event featured over 35 workshops, training courses and lectures oriented to tourism sector staff, in addition to featuring an accompanied exhibition in which over 300 specialized bodies engaged in tourism, entertainment and aviation, besides wide participation of tourism development councils had taken part.
The board referred to the patron’s commendation to STTIM-2014 as he referred to the great strides made in the national tourism which enjoys State’s support through a number of resolutions reflecting government’s care and attention towards tourism development.
The board referred also to have taken part speeches of His Excellency have taken part Minister of Labor and His Excellency Governor of SAGIA at the opening ceremony of STTIM-2014, who have stressed the importance of investment opportunities in tourism sector for job creation.
Links of opening ceremony of STTIM-2014
www.scta.gov.sa
Ceremony of the Saudi Excellence in Tourism Award 2014 which was organized by SCTA for the fourth year respectively on the sidelines of STTIM-2014 under the patronage of HRH President of SCTA, and in which the awards were handed over to the winner in tourism facilities. The awards were granted by "Saudi Voyager" and "Terhal" magazines which are published by SCTA. The ceremony was attended by a large number of companies, organizations and people concerned of tourism in the Kingdom.
Award registration link
www.scta.gov.sa
Exhibition "Aspects of Saudi urban heritage", which was opened by HRH President of SCTA along with the Director General of UNIESCO, Her Excellency Irina Bokova on 7th April. The opening ceremony was attended by the Jeddah Secretary, Eng. Hani Abu Rass, Saudi Ambassador to France, His Excellency Dr. Mohammad Al Sheikh, Prominent Envoy of Saudi Arabia to UNESCO, Dr. Zyad Al Drees, in addition to a number of owners of Jeddah Historic Area, and officials.
The board referred to the comments of Irina Bokova she had made in her speech, referring to them as emphasis to the objective of the exhibition in its consistence with the initiatives of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, especially his persistent calls in the international arena for the importance of dialogue between the nations and cultures, which confirm Kingdom’s importance as "a crossroad of civilizations". The exhibition which lasted for 5 days had featured 80 historic photos embodying Kingdom’s diverse and unique architectural styles.
Link to exhibition speeches
www.scta.gov.sa
Comprehensive development program for tourism and heritage:
The board reviewed a report on the progress report on the comprehensive development program for tourism and the national heritage which is carried out by SCTA in order to keep up with the steady growth in its undertakings.
The program consists of two key projects – tourism development project, which inspiring the recent resolution of the Cabinet on providing the "Financial and administrative support to SCTA to enable it to carry out its mandate", and the project of development of the national heritage which included in the Cabinet’s resolution regarding the approval of "King Abdullah Project for the Care of Cultural Heritage of the Kingdom". The board in this context was briefed on the formation of a supervising committee for the comprehensive development program and appointing general supervisors for each of the programs.
Executive plan for the initiative "Asir … a key tourism destination around the year":
The board reviewed a report on the work progress in the executive plan of "Asir … a key tourism destination around the year" initiative, which was launched by HRH Governor of Asir province and Chairman of Asir Tourism Development Council along with HRH President of SCTA last December, 2013. The initiative included programs and events aimed at transforming tourism seasonality in Asir province into sustainable tourism around the year.
2nd Mid-term School Break festivals:
The board commended the various tourism events and festivals that were held across different parts of the Kingdom during the 2nd mid-term school break, that reached 20 tourism festivals and events throughout 12 provinces across the Kingdom, organized by over 130 national organizations and companies engaged in the event organization business and that were qualified by SCTA during the past eight years.
The board also referred to the heavy turnout towards those events by the tourists and visitors who exceeded one million and six hundred thousand visitors, besides direct and indirect events that were created by those events which numbered over 2000 events.
The board on the other hand stated that, the development of domestic tourism is based on the promotion of tourism services, products and programs which achieve integrated tourism experience that the citizen looks for as the citizen is the key focus of entire programs and activities of SCTA.
The board in this context also referred to the comprehensive program for the tourism events that was announced by SCTA and it will be executed within the years 2014 to 2018, and it aims to keep pace with citizen’s demand on the events and his aspirations on the events development.
Link to Report on 2nd Mid-term School Break:
www.scta.gov.sa
Early preparation for summer season:
The board discussed the early preparations for the summer season, and emphasized the importance of concerted efforts of SCTA with its partners throughout the provinces for early preparations for the holidays in order to provide accurate and new events as well as stepping up monitoring efforts on the services of tourism facilities, besides intensifying marketing programs in the introduction of tourism destinations and new projects, in addition to tourism sites that were rehabilitated and made ready in the current year.
Roadside stations improvement program:
The board saw a presentation presented by the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs on ministry’s achievements and efforts in putting into effect the resolution of the Cabinet which was issued on 1st April, 2013, regarding the development of a comprehensive program for the improvement of roadside stations on highways, to be executed within two years. The presentation included a program schedule, future vision and the upgrade plans.
National antiquities recovered from USA:
The board was briefed on the recovered archeological items from the US citizens who in the past were the employees of Aramco in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The relics were recovered in collaboration with the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Saudi Embassy in Washington, USA, and Aramco. On October, 2013, over 9,139 objects were recovered, besides recovering 11 parcels containing various relics on February, 2013. SCTA is working on the sorting and classification of the recovered objects before preparing a scientific and technical report on them.
The board in this respect commended the people who brought back those relics and lauded the cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Saudi Embassy in the USA and Aramco in this respect.
The board then reviewed a number of issues in its agenda and decided the following:
Approved the study titled: "Role of tourism in economic development in the local communities in Saudi Arabia", and instructed it to be submitted to the Supreme Economic Council. The study was prepared by SCTA in collaboration with the World Tourism Organization, World Labor Organization and in coordination with the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Economy and Planning, and the Ministry of Labor, in addition to the Saudi Arabia General Investment Authority. Al Taif, Al Ula and Al Ahsa were chosen to be the sites for the survey and application of the study.
The most outstanding recommendations made by the study are as follows:
List tourism sector within the other leading sectors as a national sector and a driver of domestic economy. Give tourism due priority in government’s expending and support it with incentives and regulations. Improve infrastructure of tourism sector to uplift living levels in local communities and limit immigration to major cities, whether for work or tourism. The study also recommended for promoting investment in the development projects of new and emerging tourism destinations, build solid economic ties between the tourism and other economic sectors. Also it has recommended for the development of tourism education and training for the local residents as well as improving awareness on tourism jobs and attracting best talent to work in the tourism sector.
•Approve the closing account of the fiscal year, 2013.
