Saudi Tourism Authority to open destination marketing offices

The Cabinet of Saudi Arabia this week approved a series of 24 new regulations aimed at supporting the Saudi Tourism Authority (STA) in the achievement of its global and regional tourism targets under Saudi Vision 2030.

The new regulations enable the STA to:

• Establish and oversee domestic and international destination marketing offices, to increase visitation and position the country as a top-tier tourist destination
• Play a pivotal role in the promotion of Saudi tourism
• Set visitation targets
• Allocate funds to private-sector partners
• Formulate comprehensive plans and policies for tourism marketing, domestically and internationally
• Promote and enhance destinations in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism
• Support and market activities and events organized by governmental and private-sector bodies
• Establish and maintain a database of tourist destinations, sites, resorts and services
• Promote, in coordination with relevant agencies, Umrah package tours - the Muslim holy pilgrimage to Al Makah and Al Medina
• Perform and report on assessments of visitor experiences, set standards, and identify tourism priorities and challenges
• Propose to the Ministry of Tourism designs, policies and procedures for the development, rehabilitation and modernization of tourist destinations
• Work with domestic and international companies and institutions to provide tourism marketing products and tools
• Conduct domestic and international marketing campaigns to promote tourism sites and products, including trademark development and registration
• Develop and execute domestic and global media plans for tourism promotion, including the organization of conferences and exhibitions
• Provide administrative and technical support to small and medium tourism businesses, and implement training programs that enhance marketing efficiency
• Out of its "independent annual budget" oversee promotional campaigns. propose investments, and coordinate with other entities to enhance the travel experience.
• Collaborate with the Ministry of Tourism, other governmental bodies and the private sector to shape marketing policies that align with the Saudi national tourism strategy.

Tourism Minister Ahmed bin Aqil al-Khateeb, who is also chairman of the STA, said that the Cabinet's approval of the new STA regulations reinforces the government's commitment to the support of tourism in achieving its objectives under Saudi Vision 2030.