May 28 – The President of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA), Prince Sultan Bin Salman, referred to buildings with an architectural heritage as “dormant oil wells” that need to be exploited as “historical hotels and museums”.
Prince Salman was speaking at the opening of the International Conference on Architectural Heritage in Islamic Countries in Riyadh earlier this week. “Buildings of architectural heritage assist economic development when they are converted into hotels, museums, restaurants and cafes reflecting local heritage. They are like dormant wells of oil, and our country is rich in them from top to bottom,” he said. “We want the people of the country to be the primary beneficiaries and guardians of these sites, so that the sites can be enjoyed by everyone and not shut up and closed off,” he said.
“The SCTA is working with a number of organizations to secure the necessary funds for heritage villages and make them a source of income for local inhabitants,” Prince Sultan said.
