Tourism Law in Saudi Arabia

Tourism Law in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a set of legal rules governing the tourism sector in the Kingdom. It covers the classification of tourism activities, services, and professions and oversight of tourism operations, including tourist facilities and destinations, and the responsible entity. Additionally, it specifies penalties for individuals or companies that violate its provisions.

The Tourism Law was issued in 2014. Article Thirteen was amended in 2017, and Articles One and Eighteen were amended in 2020. The authority to implement the provisions of the Tourism Law was transferred to the Ministry of Tourism in 2020.

Moreover, several administrative regulations related to the Tourism Law were issued, including: the Tourism Destinations Regulations, the Tourism Guidance Regulations, and the Tourism Accommodation Facilities Regulations.

The Tourism Law aims to regulate the relations between tourist facilities, destinations, and services related to its activities, in terms of their validity and the application of all conditions related to each activity by the organizers of tourist facilities and destinations. It also seeks to govern those who practice tourism-related activities in the Kingdom or benefit from them.

Penalties stipulated in the Tourism Law are limited to financial penalties, which are imposed by a special committee formed by a decision from the Minister of Tourism to review violations related to the law.

The Council of Ministers approved the new Tourism Law in 2022. It aims to keep up with the change in the tourism sector to suit its renewal and diversity. The new law was built upon the best international practices selected based on the World Economic Forum's Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index ranking of the top ten countries.