The Ministry of Tourism has intensified its field inspection efforts on of hospitality facilities , including hotels, serviced apartments, and others, in both Mecca and Medina, coinciding with the first half of Ramadan. This step comes as part of the Ministry's commitment to ensuring that establishments adhere to the standards and regulations governing the tourism sector.
Details of the inspection tours in the Two Holy Mosques
Inspection campaigns conducted by the Ministry's monitoring teams resulted in 1,166 visits to hospitality facilities in Mecca, during which 762 various violations were recorded. Similarly, the teams carried out 426 monitoring visits in Medina, recording 128 violations, bringing the total number of violations detected to 890, reflecting the Ministry's commitment to enforcing regulations.
The importance of oversight and keeping pace with the Kingdom's Vision 2030
These monitoring campaigns are of paramount strategic importance, aligning with the goals of the Kingdom's Vision 2030, which prioritizes the tourism sector and serving pilgrims. With the increasing number of Umrah pilgrims and visitors during the holy month of Ramadan, ensuring the quality of services provided in accommodation facilities becomes a cornerstone for enriching the religious and cultural experience of visitors. Maintaining high standards in the accommodation sector not only contributes to the comfort of pilgrims but also enhances the Kingdom's position as a leading global religious and tourism destination, distinguished by its high-quality services and advanced infrastructure.
Awareness efforts to improve the quality of services
The ministry's efforts were not limited to penalties; they also included a crucial awareness campaign. Field teams conducted 887 awareness visits to hospitality facilities in Mecca and 367 similar visits in Medina. These visits aimed to encourage operators and investors to adhere to quality standards and licensing requirements issued by the Ministry of Tourism, thereby contributing to a reduction in future violations and raising regulatory awareness among those working in the sector.
Major violations in hospitality facilities
The ministry explained that the violations observed during the inspections varied across several areas, most notably non-compliance with the ministry's decisions and instructions, and poor hygiene in some facilities, which constitutes a serious breach of health and safety requirements. Other violations included failure to provide the ministry with required information and incomplete employee data, procedures essential for ensuring the safety and security of residents.
The monitoring and awareness efforts covered a wide range of locations, targeting more than 1,420 tourist hospitality facilities in Mecca and more than 573 in Medina. The Ministry encourages all visitors and beneficiaries to submit their inquiries, comments, or reports by contacting the Unified Tourism Center at 930 to ensure the continued improvement of services provided.
