RIYADH: The Saudi Red Sea Authority has issued the first four industry-specific codes in the Kingdom with global specifications aimed at elevating the quality of infrastructure for coastal tourism.

The Marina Planning and Design Code, The Cruise Terminal Planning and Design Code, The Marina Operations Code and The Cruise Terminal Operations Code are designed to enhance the quality of the coastal tourism sector and unify technical standards and requirements for marinas and cruise terminals.

The issuance of the codes aligns with the authority’s mandates, which include establishing guidelines, rules, and standards for providing services for navigational and marine tourism activities, along with marinas.

Tasks include their development, management, operation, and supervision in coordination with relevant entities, using the best international practices to position the Red Sea as a leading global tourism destination.

The codes will accommodate yachts, maritime tourism watercrafts and cruise ships within the geographical scope. These codes ensure the quality of infrastructure and target developers, planners, designers, engineers, and technicians in related industries.

The codes outline specific requirements and standards for managing and operating coastal tourism facilities. They will serve as a standardized reference document detailing the minimum requirements for the management and operations of these facilities.

The authority has previously issued eight regulations governing coastal tourism activities, the first of their kind in the Kingdom, to ensure effective management and operation of the facilities and in order to improve public safety.