Crackdown on illegal hospitality services

Beirut: The Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities, or SCTA, has uncovered in recent months more than 1,000 licence violations by companies operating tourist hospitality facilities and penalties were issued against wrongdoers, Jeddah-based Okaz daily reported yesterday citing an official.

"These sanctions will be escalated to temporary or permanent closure of the facilities of those who didn't abide by the license requirements and didn't attain the minimum safety and public health prerequisites", Ahmad Al Eisa, director-general of SCTA's department of licensing and quality, said according to the paper.

The SCTA is committed to continuous inspection of hotels and furnished apartments in order to ensure that those in the tourist hospitality business are complying with their licence conditions, including displaying the approved rates in a place where they can be seen, Al Eisa added.

Zawya Dow Jones reported last month that rates for one night in a single room in main hotels in the holy city of Makkah have surged to more than 4,000 Saudi riyals (Dh3918.37).