June 30 – The Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) launched a new classification system for furnished accommodation that they hope will encourage improved services.
Prince Sultan bin Salman, chairman of the SCTA, said the purpose of classifying accommodation is to determine the level of services that they provide and balance the interests of investors and the people who use them. He added that tying prices to the standards of services offered is a progressive move forward.
He also said that the process of devising a system to classify accommodation was done in conjunction with international specialist organizations and that the system takes into consideration the experiences of other developed countries.
The issue was also discussed with a number of concerned government sectors, and that workshops were held with private organizations to gauge their views.
Prince Sultan said the private sector should establish qualified companies to manage and operate furnished accommodation to enhance the level of services that they offer and create job opportunities.
