Tourism Development Council (TDC)

The Tourism Development Council (TDC) is a council responsible for harmonizing plans, initiatives, and projects pertaining to tourism development throughout the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The TDC’s regulation was approved by the Council of Ministers on September 15, 2020, is administratively associated with the Ministry of Tourism, and is headquartered in the city of Riyadh.

The TDC aims to align the objectives of the tourism sector, coordinate with ministries and government bodies to develop the sector, and implement tourism development plans and priority initiatives related to the sector.

The TDC works in coordination with government entities to develop the tourism sector in the Kingdom by organizing the implementation of plans and projects, enabling the private sector to invest in the tourism sector, arranging its work with the relevant authorities, facilitating the provision of its requirements, and stimulating the elements of its progress.

The TDC works to harmonize national objectives relating to the tourism sector, coordinate efforts to develop and strengthen the tourism sector, evaluate the activities and efforts of ministries and government agencies involved in the tourism sector, report on whatever requires action, and support efforts to raise public awareness of the importance of tourism development.

The TDC is allocated a budget (program) within the budget of the Ministry of Tourism. The staff of the TDC's secretariat is subject to the laws and regulations applicable in the ministry. The TDC’s chairman reports annually to the chairman of the Council for Economic and Development Affairs (CEDA) on the TDC's achievements, obstacles encountered, and solutions proposed to address them.

The TDC’s secretariat in the Provinces of the Kingdom is headed by a secretary-general, who oversees the secretariat’s technical and administrative affairs, serving the TDC's objectives. The secretary-general has the authority to set the business agenda for the TDC and its committees, oversee the work of experts and consultants assisting the TDC in the performance of its functions, follow up on the work of the committees formed by the TDC, and inform relevant authorities of the TDC's decisions and recommendations and follow up on the implementation thereof.

The secretary-general also proposes the main pillars governing the TDC's activities, represents the TDC before administrative and judicial bodies and may delegate others with the same, and prepares reports on the TDC's work and achievements.

The organization of the TDC includes the formation of permanent or temporary committees of tourism development councils by members of the TDC or others, provided the formation directive explicitly appoints the committee chairman and members and their respective spheres of competence.