Saudi- 13 unlicensed hotels closed in Jeddah

(MENAFN- Arab News) The Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) has detected 13 unlicensed hospitality facilities operating in Jeddah, despite having faced penalties earlier



The SCTA branch in Makkah reported the names of these facilities and of their owners have been sent to the governorate for necessary action, local media reported



Sources said the report included detailed information on the facilities that operated and even advertised on billboards before securing necessary licenses.



This was in violation of regulations that clearly state that permits have to be obtained in coordination with municipalities and the SCTA before starting operations



The Makkah branch of the SCTA stressed that a number of hospitality facilities, including hotels, operate without obtaining necessary licenses.



It has asked the municipalities to remove the billboards till these facilities rectify their status.



Jeddah has been seeing a surge in demand for hotel reservations and other hospitality facilities with midterm holidays round the corner



The new tourism regulation that the Council of Ministers approved recently has sought display of room tariff and other services in all hospitality facilities, hotels, rented apartments and other lodgings



The SCTA had announced that it will not intervene in the pricing policy in compliance with the new rule