Riyadh, January 02, 2025 – In a move to enhance the quality and integrity of the Kingdom's hospitality sector, the Ministry of Tourism has announced that, effective today, all booking platforms and applications must remove listings for tourist and private hospitality facilities that are operating without a valid license issued by the ministry. This directive aims to safeguard the interests of both domestic and international visitors by ensuring that all facilities meet the high standards set by the Kingdom’s tourism regulations.
The new initiative is part of a broader campaign by the Ministry of Tourism to improve adherence to licensing and classification standards within the hospitality industry. The ministry emphasized that it is crucial for all tourist and private hospitality facilities to secure or renew their licenses before commencing operations. Facilities that fail to comply will face a range of penalties, including fines of up to SAR 1 million, temporary or permanent closure, and, in certain cases, public disclosure of the violations. These measures are designed to ensure that all hospitality services meet the legal and regulatory conditions stipulated in the Tourism Law and its associated regulations.
The directive comes as a response to the Ministry’s observation of several tourist and private hospitality facilities that have been listing their services on both local and international booking platforms without obtaining the necessary licenses or before they were approved. To address this, the Ministry has formally instructed all travel and tourism service providers, including both local and international platforms, to immediately remove any listings of unlicensed or unauthorized facilities from their systems. In addition, all platforms are now required to ensure that any classification information provided on their websites accurately reflects the official classifications given by the Ministry of Tourism.
This mandate highlights the Ministry's commitment to maintaining a high standard of service in the Kingdom's rapidly growing tourism sector, which is a key element of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 economic diversification plan. By ensuring that only licensed and officially classified facilities are available to the public, the ministry is working to provide a safer and more reliable environment for tourists, which will further bolster the reputation of Saudi Arabia as a premier global tourism destination.
The Ministry of Tourism also encourages tourists and users of hospitality services to actively report any issues or inquiries regarding their experiences. The public is urged to contact the Unified Tourism Center at 930 to provide feedback or raise concerns about unlicensed facilities. Through this combined effort, the Ministry aims to foster transparency, accountability, and a higher level of service across the Kingdom’s tourism sector.