Saudi Tourism Minister Ahmed Al-Khateeb Approves New Policies To Localize Jobs In Tourism Sector

New policies and regulations for registering workers in licensed tourism facilities have been approved by Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khateeb. This initiative aims to boost employment for citizens, empower national talent, and enhance service quality. Developed with government agencies, these policies seek to increase citizen involvement in tourism and offer job opportunities, including leadership roles, aligning with Saudi Vision 2030.

The regulations cover all activities licensed by the Ministry of Tourism. They require facilities to register employees with the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development before they start work. Employee contracts, whether contractual, seconded, or seasonal, must be documented via the Ajeer platform or other approved platforms.

Tourism establishments with multiple branches need to register employees against the facility file linked to each tourism license. This ensures that all workers are accounted for under the correct branch, maintaining transparency and compliance with the new regulations.

A key requirement is that all tourism hospitality facilities must have a Saudi receptionist during working hours. This reinforces Saudi hospitality values. Outsourcing or assigning positions subject to Saudization decisions to entities outside the Kingdom is prohibited. Such work must be outsourced to establishments licensed by the Ministry of Tourism or those authorized by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development.

The ministry has stressed that adherence to these policies will be closely monitored. Penalties will be enforced on violators in collaboration with relevant government agencies, ensuring strict compliance across the sector.

Alignment with Saudi Vision 2030

The new policies aim to provide stimulating job opportunities for citizens, including leadership roles and positions for recent graduates. This aligns with Saudi Vision 2030's goals of increasing citizen participation in various sectors and enhancing national employment rates.

By implementing these regulations, the Ministry of Tourism seeks to create a more inclusive environment for Saudi nationals within the tourism industry. The focus is on empowering local talent while maintaining high service standards across all licensed facilities.

This strategic move by the Ministry of Tourism highlights its commitment to fostering a robust workforce within the Kingdom's tourism sector. By prioritizing citizen employment and ensuring compliance with Saudization policies, it aims to drive sustainable growth in line with national objectives.

With inputs from SPA