Latest news with #MinistryOfTourism
Arab News
3 days ago
- Arab News
Saudi authorities crack down on tourism violations
RIYADH: The Ministry of Tourism intensified inspections targeting tourism service providers across key summer destinations in cities and regions throughout the Kingdom. Over the past month, inspection teams carried out around 2,750 field visits, detecting some 170 violations, according to a Saudi Press Agency report. These visits aimed to ensure that tourism entities are licensed by the ministry, safeguarding the rights of both domestic and international tourists as part of the Saudi Summer program. In Asir, more than 420 inspections uncovered over 25 violations. In Taif, more than 360 visits revealed around 25 violations. Jeddah recorded over 1,680 visits, revealing more than 110 violations. In the Baha region, more than 280 inspections resulted in five violations. The ministry emphasized that all tourism service providers — including travel agencies, consultancy offices, and event organizers — must comply with tourism regulations and bylaws to protect tourists' rights. It also urged the public to report any concerns about tourism services via the unified call center at 930.
Malay Mail
22-07-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
Malaysia records 16.9m tourist arrivals in first five months of 2025, a 20.4pc increase from last year
KUALA LUMPUR, July 22 — Malaysia recorded an increase of 20.4 per cent in foreign tourist arrivals from January to May this year, with a total of 16.94 million visitors compared to 14.07 million during the same period in 2024. According to the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, the top five markets were led by Singapore, which remained the largest contributor with 8.34 million visitors, a 26.5 per cent increase compared to the previous year. 'Indonesia ranked second with 1.82 million visitors (up 10.3 per cent), followed by China with 1.81 million visitors, recording the highest growth rate of 38.8 per cent. Thailand saw 1.06 million arrivals (up 5.2 per cent), while India recorded 664,811 visitors, reflecting a strong recovery with a 32.0 per cent increase,' it said in a parliamentary written reply. The ministry added that arrivals from long-haul markets also showed strong performance, with Australia and the United Kingdom recording increases of 16.6 per cent and 8.7 per cent respectively, amounting to 198,968 and 185,197 foreign visitors. 'The increase in foreign tourist arrivals clearly reflects the effectiveness of various initiatives undertaken by the government through strategic approaches, progressive policies such as the Visa Liberalisation Plan (VLP), provision of support and incentives to industry players, and the implementation of high-impact promotional campaigns, including digital promotions and strategic collaborations with online platforms and airlines,' the ministry said. The ministry was responding to Seputeh MP Teresa Kok Suh Sim, who asked for the breakdown of foreign tourist arrivals, by country, to Malaysia from January to June 2025 compared with the breakdown during the same period in 2024 and the projected breakdown of foreign tourist arrivals for Visit Malaysia Year 2026. The ministry said it is targeting 47 million foreign tourist arrivals in 2026, with a particular focus on key markets showing high growth potential. 'These target markets include Central Asia, the Middle East, Asean, Europe, and Oceania,' it added.
Zawya
21-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Jordan: Cabinet approves new regulations, says they aim to ease tourism rules, support farmers
AMMAN — The Cabinet on Sunday approved two major bylaws aimed at revitalising the tourism sector, simplifying regulations, and attracting investment, in line with recent amendments to the Tourism Law. Chaired by Prime Minister Jafar Hassan, the Cabinet endorsed the 2025 Hotel and Tourism Establishments Bylaw and the 2025 Tourist Restaurants Bylaw, both designed to improve the business environment and reduce regulatory burdens, according to the Jordan news agency, Petra. Under the new regulations, hotels and tourism establishments will no longer require a licence to operate. Instead, they will need approval from the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, which will also oversee classification standards. Licensing fees have been scrapped, easing operational costs for business owners. The bylaw also introduces mandatory compliance with inclusive tourism standards, ensuring accessibility for persons with disabilities, the elderly, and children, alongside adherence to environmental regulations. The Tourist Restaurants Bylaw eliminates the requirement for a ministry-issued licence, replacing it with a classification or registration system. It also cancels licensing fees, aligning with the amended Tourism Law. Tourist restaurants must now meet public health and safety requirements, including regulations related to smoking and the provision of waterpipes, according to Petra. These legislative reforms form part of the government's broader Economic Modernisation Vision, which identifies tourism as a key driver of economic growth. In a move to bolster local agriculture, the Cabinet approved the purchase of locally produced wheat and barley, both for seed and fodder purposes, during the 2024/2025 agricultural season. Procurement will be handled by the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Supply via the open trade account, in coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture and the Jordanian Cooperative Corporation, Petra reported. Approved purchase prices were set at JD500 per tonne for seed-grade wheat and JD420 for seed-grade barley, while fodder-grade wheat and barley were priced at JD420 and JD370 per tonne, respectively. To ease financial pressure on farmers, the government will reduce seed prices for the 2025/2026 season by JD50 per tonne, and will cover screening and sterilisation costs, estimated at JD75 per tonne. A total of JD19 million has been allocated for the purchase of approximately 40,000 tonnes of grain, Petra said. These measures aim to promote self-sufficiency in key crops and incentivise expanded cultivation. The Cabinet also approved an amendment to the 2025 Building and Zoning Bylaw for the Greater Amman Municipality. The change extends a discount on unpaid building fees to buildings constructed in 2025. The aim is to alleviate the financial burden on property owners, with some fines currently reaching four times the original violation cost. The Cabinet endorsed the validating reasons for the proposed 2025 bylaw for Greater Amman Municipality employees, which will be submitted to the Legislation and Opinion Bureau. The bylaw seeks to streamline human resources regulations, address inconsistencies in implementation, and improve municipal service delivery by enhancing staff efficiency and supporting strategic goals. The Cabinet also approved the construction of a new access road to the planned government hospital in Madaba. The road will be implemented by the Ministry of Public Works and Housing, while a parallel route will be constructed by the Ministry of Local Administration. The roads are deemed critical infrastructure for the hospital project.
Zawya
16-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Oman: Newly formed tourism body targets job growth
MUSCAT - Increasing employment within the tourism industry in Oman is amongst the top goals of the newly established Oman Tourism Association. Speaking to the press, the Chairman of the first tourism association in Oman, Awadh Burham Ba Omar, highlighted that employment is one of the Association's primary goals, 'A key focus is on enhancing professionalism and increasing local employment rates within the sector,' he said. 'The local value generated by investment in the tourism sector is substantial, and the sector has the capacity to absorb large numbers of job seekers. It is a vital industry, and we hope to see strong partnerships between the association, investment institutions, professionals in the field, as well as the Ministry and other relevant government bodies,' he added. According to Ba Omar, the sector – while rich in employment opportunities – comes with challenges in aligning qualifications with market requirements. 'There are indeed opportunities for employment, but the main challenge lies in meeting the requirements of these jobs—whether academic, professional, or experiential. The sector holds great potential, but it requires well-structured training to realize it,' he shared. A starting point would be to address the gaps in job classifications according to global dynamics, he explained. 'This is where the association plays a critical role. There is currently a significant gap in how roles are categorized and in defining their professional requirements in alignment with international standards. Tourism is a globally competitive industry. You cannot build a local tourism sector without acknowledging the dynamics of global competition. You are offering a product in an international marketplace, which means you are competing regionally and globally. This reality demands that our standards in the tourism sector meet the highest international benchmarks,' he stated. To this end, the Association is working towards creating clear roadmaps. 'It starts with adopting those standards and then applying them—both in terms of professional practices and training programmes... This would allow young Omanis to progress smoothly through the career ladder, benefit from real growth opportunities, and advance into leadership roles within the sector. What we in the association are working toward is creating a clear and structured roadmap into the sector—so that even students can understand their future career paths within tourism, starting from the classroom,' he said. Established in December 2024, the Oman Tourism Association is the first civil society organization dedicated to the tourism sector. The association commenced operations on July 1, 2025. According to officials, the association aims to bridge the gap between supervising government authorities and sector stakeholders including investors and professionals.
LBCI
14-07-2025
- LBCI
Jeita Grotto to welcome visitors starting July 15
Jeita Grotto will reopen to visitors starting July 15, following intensive efforts that led to a mutual agreement between the Ministry of Tourism and the Municipality of Jeita. The municipality has already begun comprehensive maintenance and preparations, including work on the site and the cable car. The official reopening ceremony will take place on July 21 under the patronage of President Joseph Aoun, represented by Minister of Tourism Laura El-Khazen Lahoud. The event highlights the grotto's significance as a national tourist landmark and a natural treasure.
