Saudi Arabia has made significant strides in coastal tourism in 2024, driven by the Saudi Red Sea Authority‘s (SRSA) key initiatives, events and programs. The authority issued 28 licenses for maritime tourism agents, marina operators, yacht charter companies and cruise ship operators, further enhancing the tourist experiences and fostering an attractive investment environment.
Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Authority also introduced the first-ever regulatory framework for Saudi yachts, setting comprehensive guidelines for their operation in the Kingdom’s Red Sea waters. This framework lays the necessary legislative foundation for coastal tourism regulations and strengthens the authority’s role in both regulation and legislation.
Coastal tourism infrastructure quality boost
Further supporting coastal tourism’s growth, the authority issued eight licenses for maritime tourism agents, nine for marina operators, three for yacht charter companies and one for marina construction in 2024.
Additionally, it granted one leisure and tourism cruise ship operator license, one cruise itinerary license and five leisure and tourism technical licenses, all aimed at enhancing coastal tourism activities in the Red Sea and advancing the growth of the tourism sector in Saudi Arabia.
The authority also launched Saudi Arabia’s first four codes aimed at improving coastal tourism infrastructure quality. These codes cover the planning, design and operations of marinas and cruise terminals, including the Marina Planning and Design Code, the Cruise Terminal Planning and Design Code, the Marina Operations Code and the Cruise Terminal Operations Code.
Partnerships drive growth
The SRSA also represented Saudi at over 25 regional and international exhibitions, conferences and events to attract investment and promote coastal tourism in the Red Sea. It also released 15 high-quality nautical charts in collaboration with the General Authority for Survey and Geospatial Information and related entities.
Additionally, the authority signed 16 agreements and memorandums of understanding with various entities in 2024. Notably, it partnered with the Ministry of Tourism to train over 1,000 national professionals specializing in the coastal tourism sector, as part of its coastal tourism excellence program. This program is designed to equip talent with the skills needed for roles in luxury resorts and travel agencies. It also signed an agreement with the Insurance Authority to launch the first insurance product for coastal tourism activities in Saudi Arabia.
Moreover, it carried out more than 120 compliance visits to sites operated by marina operators and maritime tourism agents. These efforts aim to protect the marine environment and enhance the experiences of both beneficiaries and investors.
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SRSA receives global recognition
In recognition of its achievements, SRSA received seven prestigious awards across global, regional and local platforms. These include the Award for the Application of Nautical Charts for Coastal Tourism Destinations, three Saudi Customer Experience Awards in digital transformation and the Japan Tourism Award for Sustainable Tourism under the UNWTO.
Saudi Arabia continues to set new benchmarks in building the coastal tourism sector and establishing an effective regulatory framework that supports coastal tourism activities. These endeavors aim to attract investments, create new job opportunities and ensure the protection and sustainability of the marine environment for future generations.
