The tourism industry is likely to develop and grow as the government is keen to attract both domestic and foreign tourists. Encouraging tourism from outside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a relatively, new concept as tourist visas have only been available since 2013. However a number of initiatives are now in place to boost tourism, the main initiative being a new tourism law.

There has, for some time, been a need for regulation within the industry and change has been eagerly anticipated. The new Tourism Regulation promulgated by Royal Decree No. 2 dated 09/01/1436H corresponding to 25 October 2014 (“Regulation”), together with its Implementing Regulations (collectively known as  the “Tourism Law”) comes into force in May this year. It replaces the Hotel Regulation issued by Royal Decree M/27 dated 11/04/1395H corresponding to 23 April 1975.