Saudi Arabia sets up new authority to develop ‘Red Sea Economy
Minister of Tourism to chair the Saudi Red Sea Authority which aims to deliver a 'seamless tourist experience' through regulation of marine tourism activities
The new authority will oversee the sustainable development of the Red Sea region of Saudi Arabia.
The Council of Ministers, chaired by King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, has approved the creation of a new authority to oversee the development of the ‘Red Sea economy’.
The Saudi Red Sea Authority (SRSA) will be chaired by Ahmed Al Khateeb, the Minister of Tourism and will streamline regulation to enable the sustainable development of the region for the kingdom.
The authority’s mandate is to ensure a “seamless tourist experience” through regulation of marine tourism activities such as cruises and yachting, as well as enabling other recreational activities such as diving and sailing.
According to a statement, the SRSA’s activities will play an important role in stimulating the creation of a “prosperous local tourism economy along Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coastline, while preserving and protecting the sea’s pristine environment”.
It will be responsible for streamlining regulation to encourage investment and job creation and provide support to small and medium sized enterprises engaged in marine recreational and tourism activities, the statement added.
Al Khateeb said: “The SRSA’s objective is to enable a thriving tourism economy throughout the kingdom’s Red Sea coastline, with sustainability at its heart, in line with His Royal Highness the Crown Prince’s guidance and vision.