Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, the Secretary General of the Higher Commission for Tourism, said here today that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is proceeding with its strategy of building a tourism industry on firm bases of partnership between the state and the private sector. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the 5th Mediterranean Travel Exhibition in Cairo today, he briefed his listeners on the plan to start the industry through the state's capabilities before transferring it to the private sector in the long run. He added that the government is planning to furnish the infrastructure of the tourism industry within a short time before opening the business for private companies' investment. Prince Sultan bin Salman said his department is seeking coordination with relevant departments and ministries to link Umrah visa with touristic purposes to meet demands of Umrah worshippers from different parts of the world. He also cast light on what his department call religious tourism, medical and treatment tourism, sports tourism and social tourism. He called for the promotion of Arab tourism among countries of the region. --More 2122 Local Time 1822 GMT
