New rules allow Saudi women to organize tourism itineraries

New rules allow Saudi women to organize tourism itineraries

Saudi Gazette/Okaz

The regulations, which came into effect on Friday, aim at providing more job opportunities to women as part of the government efforts to empower them.

A tour organizer must be a Saudi national “” a male or a female “” or a foreign investor having a valid license, according to the rules.The regulations define the tour organizer as a person licensed to organize tourism itineraries and market them inside or outside the Kingdom in return for specific charges.The services that tour organizers are allowed to offer include car rentals, accommodation, entertainment, management of tourist destinations, and insurance brokerage.Under the new rules, Saudi Arabia's Tourism Ministry has made it mandatory for tour organizers to have insurance policies for tourists and travelers for the trips.Organizers, however, cannot hold programs in military, border, customs, or private zones without obtaining a permit, and are banned from taking photographs.