SCTNH earmarks 3 sites for tourism development
JEDDAH: The Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTNH) put at the disposal of investors working in the tourism industry three sites that will be dedicated to a hostel and environmental camps.
The sites are to be designed to suit the nature of the project, which offers a different type of accommodation to hikers and visitors to these areas.
The three investment sites allocated by the commission includes one located in Al-Ula city, north of Madinah, which will include a camp and an environmental hostel on an area of 350,000 square meters within the Sharan National Park.
Sharan National Park is a picturesque nature site with many types of trees, corals and soft sand. The park contains special geological forma- tions of sedimentary-rock towering mountains.
The second site is the environmental camp in the city of Souq Okaz, Taif, which will cover an area of 115, 000 square meters.
One advantage of the site is that it is close to major cities in Makkah region and to Taif airport as well. The site aims to offer a new style of accommodation and tourism services in Taif.
The commission has also allocated an environmental camp project in Uruq Bani Ma‘arid, in Najran. The area, which will be rented, is about 50,000 square meters and located between Al-Dawaser Valley and Najran.
Companies and businesses with experience and sufficient financial capacity can take charge of the run- ning, including operating and maintenance work, and management of this environmental camp.
This comes as part of a set of regulations needed to draw tourism investment and drive the development process.
The project consists of an environmental desert resort that contains 24 tents and infrastructure that observes all environmental specifications.
The project has all the necessary elements that can enrich the tourists’ experience and that can develop eco-tourism in protected areas.
The products created are compatible with the nature of the reserves and its environmental sensitivity. They are bound to stimulate investment in the field.
In a separate development, the SCTNH closed a hotel in Riyadh for operating without the licenses required by the commission, the Civil Defense and the Municipal Affairs.
SCTNH receives complaints, comments and suggestions regarding services and tourism events through the Tourism Contact Center, which can be called at 19988 and is on call 24 hours a day all year round.