Saudi Arabia decided on Wednesday to cancel fees for issuing commercial activity licenses for hotels, hotel apartments and residential resorts in the kingdom, state news agency SPA reported.
The Ritz-Carlton, Jeddah © Mena Today
Saudi Arabia decided on Wednesday to cancel fees for issuing commercial activity licenses for hotels, hotel apartments and residential resorts in the kingdom, state news agency SPA reported.
The decision, effective Sept. 4, is part of the Tourism Investment Enabler Program that Saudi Arabia launched in March, aimed at making the kingdom a global tourism powerhouse.
"This decision comes in line with the goals of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 to make Saudi one of the most prominent tourist destinations in the world", SPA said.
SPA added that the initiative would encourage investors to put more money into the tourism sector, which would increase the industry's contribution to gross domestic product.
Saudi's Vision 2030 plans to modernise the Gulf Arab state and reduce its dependence on oil export revenues with over $800 billion invested to diversify the economy.
By Jana Choukeir
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, in separate meetings with Iranian and Saudi national security officials in Beijing on Monday, said all parties in the Middle East conflict should focus on political solutions rather than resorting to arms again.
Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis have advanced to within 80 km (50 miles) of Aden, the main stronghold and temporary capital of the country's internationally recognised government, four military sources told Reuters on Monday.
Lebanese customs, working with General Security, foiled a major smuggling attempt on Saturday at Beirut’s Rafic Hariri International Airport, seizing 46.7 kilos of cocaine, the largest drug bust in the airport’s history, French-language daily L’Orient-Le Jour reported.
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