RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has introduced new policies to localize the tourism sector across the Kingdom. 

The new measures were approved by Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khateeb, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday. 

All tourism hospitality facilities are now required to have a Saudi receptionist present during working hours.

Tourist facilities must register all employees with the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development before they begin work.

Employee contracts — including contractual, seconded or seasonal —must be documented via the Ajeer platform or other approved platforms.

Establishments with multiple licensed branches must register employees specifically against the facility file linked to each tourism license.

Outsourcing or assigning positions subject to Saudization policies to entities or workers outside the Kingdom is prohibited.

Such work must be outsourced to establishments licensed by the Ministry of Tourism or licensed to assign Saudis by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development.

The ministry emphasized that compliance with these policies will be strictly monitored, and warned of penalties for violators. 

The Ministry of Tourism said the new regulations are a significant step in its efforts to enhance employment opportunities for citizens and improve overall service quality. 

The policies have been developed in collaboration with relevant government agencies. They aim to increase the contribution of citizens to the sector and provide stimulating jobs, including leadership roles and positions for graduates, aligning with Saudi Vision 2030. 

The ministry announced earlier this year that it had raised wage subsidies for local workers in the tourism sector from 30 percent to 50 percent, in a strategic push to expand employment opportunities for Saudi nationals and reduce reliance on foreign labor. 

It extended financial support to 43 tourism-related professions and was designed to enhance the appeal and sustainability of careers in the sector.