RIYADH: Inspection teams from the Ministry of Tourism visited travel and tourism offices in Riyadh as part of the “Our Guests Are a Priority” campaign.
The initiative aims to ensure compliance with regulatory standards and improve service quality across the Kingdom, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday.
In Riyadh, the inspections led to the closure of 10 offices for violations. The main offenses included operating without a license, organizing unauthorized Umrah and Hajj trips, transporting pilgrims in unlicensed vehicles, and housing worshippers in unregulated facilities in Makkah and Madinah.
The campaign is part of the ministry’s efforts to protect tourists’ rights and regulate tourism service providers. It targets unlicensed offices or those operating beyond their approved activities.
The ministry confirmed it will impose regulatory penalties on violators, including fines of up to SR50,000 ($13,300). For repeat offenses, fines can reach up to SR1 million.
Additional sanctions may include suspension or permanent closure of the office, depending on the severity of the violations. The ministry urged all licensed providers to comply with the terms of their licenses.
It also advised tourists to deal only with licensed and regulated providers to protect their rights and ensure a safe, reliable experience, the SPA reported.
Complaints about tourism and hospitality services can be reported to the Unified Tourism Call Center at 930.
