RIYADH: The Shoura Council approved Monday a 19-article draft law to regulate tourist services and persons or bodies employed in tourism-related fields in the Kingdom. Shoura Secretary General Muhammad Al-Ghamdi said the new draft regulation would make the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities responsible for issuing permits and licenses for hotels, tourist trips and guided tours. The regulation outlines penalties for breaches, but allows a period of one year from when the regulation is brought into effect for tourism-related businesses to make the necessary adjustments. The Shoura Council also approved a draft cooperation agreement between the Saudi Press Agency and the Indian Press Trust, and a draft educational and scientific agreement between the Ministry of Higher Education and Turkey's Higher Education Council.
