The Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) is interested in promoting local tourism especially during the summer and Eid holidays. The SCTA “Summerfest 2015” and its “Support of Tourism Trips” program are aimed at providing domestic tourism opportunities for Saudis and residents of the Kingdom. Under the dynamic guidance of Prince Sultan Bin Salman, the SCTA will surely realize all of its objectives. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is spending massive amounts for the expansion of the two holy mosques providing first class facilities for the benefit of the guests of Allah.
Recently Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman inaugurated Al-Diriyah project, the Turaif Quarter of which has been declared a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in addition to Madain Saleh. The SCTA initiative “Live in Saudi Arabia” has enabled millions of Saudi students to learn about and feel proud of their rich heritage.
Saudi Arabia as the cradle of Islam has distinguished historical sites and the capital of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh has many heritage sites, museums, splendid mosques, gardens, bridges, wide roads, shopping malls and other architectural marvels.
The Riyadh Metro will add one more feather to the cap of this major metropolis. First time visitors to the capital city are mesmerized by these aspects of development, as their previous impression was of desert, camels and small oases as a result of the depiction of Saudi Arabia in Hollywood films.
As the world has become a global village and traveling has now become easier, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has simplified the procedures for issuing Umrah and visit visas to the family members of its foreign workforce. This has provided the opportunity for millions of people from around the world to perform Umrah and Haj in comfort as well as the chance to visit the nation's historical sites. As a result, millions of pilgrims return home with memories of performing their religious obligations and of seeing the real Saudi Arabia.
Millions of people have come to Saudi Arabia and are grateful to the Kingdom for affording them the opportunity to work in a secure and pleasant environment. Travel agencies can boost local tourism as well as their business by planning guided tours to important places during the Friday and Saturday weekend so that millions of expats and their dependents can have the opportunity of visiting historical sites during their stay in Saudi Arabia. This will provide a shot in the arm for the hospitality industry and will create thousands of jobs in the tourism sector. Expatriate workers will get more information about the Kingdom, its heritage, culture, customs, tradition and many other things. Upon returning home, these expats will also spread information about places they have visited in the Kingdom which will further boost the inflow of visitors to these places.
People of different nationalities will benefits if the SCTA prints catalogues of different sites, museums, heritage places and its programs in various languages and makes advertisements in newspapers so that more people can take part in tourist festivals. During my last visit to the Heritage and Cultural Festival in Janadriyah, I saw the Urdu language written on old Saudi riyals. The SCTA must add to its tourist sites lists of industrial units of Saudi Arabia which are gigantic compared to those in developing countries and also make the necessary arrangements for group visits by students of schools, colleges and universities as well as expats to these industrial units.
There are many important places in Riyadh, such as the National Museum, Al-Masmak Fort, Saqr Al-Jazeera Aviation Museum, etc. A lack of proper information regarding these places among expats is the reason why many do not visit them and lose the opportunity to see Saudi Arabia at close quarters.
Last but not least, there are many senior Saudi citizens who should be interviewed as they are an important link between the present and the past. Through their stories we can learn more about the life, culture, living conditions and struggles of the past and how the Kingdom reached its present form. The information these senior citizens have will be very interesting for Saudis as well as for expats and will also provide important data for research scholars.
