Cabinet boost for exhibitions
The Cabinet decision to transform the Standing Committee for Exhibitions and Conferences into a national program will strengthen this vital economic sector, said Prince Sultan bin Salman, president of Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities.
The Cabinet announced the program aimed at reorganizing and developing the sector to achieve the desired goals. A high-level committee chaired by the SCTA chief will supervise the program.
“I expect the Cabinet decision would have a big impact in boosting economies of the Kingdom’s regions,” Prince Sultan said. “It will also create more job opportunities for citizens and accelerate economic growth.”
He said exhibitions and conferences play a big role in promoting trade exchanges between countries.
“Our conference and exhibition sector has all the potentials to achieve a leading position,” he said, adding that it would play as a major driver of growth.
However, he pointed out that the sector required better organization and greater development as well as infrastructure investment.
According to studies conducted by the Tourism Research and Information Center (MAS), about 3.5 million have visited the conferences and exhibitions held in the Kingdom last year.
The Cabinet also entrusted the Ministry of Commerce and Industry the task of preparing of the Kingdom’s participation in foreign exhibitions.
Culture and Information Minister Abdul Aziz Khoja said the Cabinet reviewed the latest developments at regional and international levels, including global efforts to contain the Syrian crisis.
On the 32nd anniversary of the Gulf Cooperation Council, the Cabinet praised the efforts of GCC leaders and their keenness to achieve more progress and realize the aspirations of the GCC people.
The Cabinet authorized the crown prince or his deputy to discuss and sign with Austria a draft agreement for mutual protection of classified information.
It approved reshuffling of the board of trustees of King Fahd National Library with Prince Salman as its chairman. The board members include the minister of higher education, minister of culture and information and deputy minister of finance.
The Cabinet appointed Zuhair bin Mohammed Al-Idrissi ambassador at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Humaidi and Abdullah bin Salah Al-Qannas experts at the Cabinet’s Bureau of Experts; Dhaifallah bin Bader Al-Otaibi director general of customs at King Khaled International Airport; and Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Dakheel director general of customs at Riyadh Dry Port. Saudi Arabian Airlines is wellprepared to handle the summer rush of local travelers, said Khaled Al- Mulhim, director general of Saudi Arabian Airlines. Saudia has planned weekly additional flights to many local airports.
Al- Mulhim confirmed that Saudia is working hard to develop its fleets and overcome the annual problem of summer crowds.
“Due to high demand on local flights, we have increased the capacity of local flights across the Kingdom. We have targeted tourist destinations like Abha, Jazan, Tabuk, Najran and Al-Baha as a priority. We hope not to see any further rush at local airports during the summer of 2013, he said.
According to Al-Mulhim, Saudia is trying to tackle the annual summer crowd.
“We have increased seat capacity for northern areas by 47 percent and the southern region by 53 percent compared to what it was in the summer of 2010, and especially to tourist destinations,” he said.
“Our recent reports show that the seat capacity for Abha Airport is estimated at 40,656 and the increased rate is estimated at 56 percent.”
However, Saudia also increased the total seat capacity to and from Jazan Airport by 19,998 seats per week. The increase in rate is estimated at 63 percent compared to