The Saudi Red Sea Authority has granted 12 new licenses to tourism shipping agents, cruise ship operators, and marine tourism developers, along with technical licenses for recreational marine activities, as part of its ongoing initiative to boost the growth of the coastal tourism sector.
The newly issued licenses over the past two months include a tourism shipping agent license for Deep Seas Shipping Agency and three for marine tourism marina operators: Sindalah Marina in NEOM, Dolphin Beach Resort in Yanbu, and Jeddah Municipality Marina.
According to the statement, “Other licenses comprise a permit to construct a marine tourism marina for Sindalah Island Marina in NEOM, a cruise ship operator license for Red Sea Cruises (Cruise Saudi), a route license for cruise ships, and five technical recreational tourism licenses, including four for yacht companies and one for AROYA Cruise Limited.”
This initiative aligns with the authority’s core responsibilities which entail issuing necessary licenses and permits to regulate maritime and tourism activities, setting standards and guidelines for marine tourism marinas, and promoting coastal tourism activities to attract tourists, practitioners, and investors. These efforts aim to achieve the authority’s objectives of building and developing a promising coastal tourism sector.
The licenses issued by the authority contribute to enhancing tourism activities by creating an attractive coastal environment that encourages investments and draws tourists to the Red Sea shore destinations, thereby fostering the growth of coastal tourism activities and significantly supporting the national economy.
As per the statement, the licenses represent a qualitative leap in developing coastal tourism in Saudi Arabia and attracting investments and investors. They also reflect the authority’s commitment to regulating maritime and tourism activities, ensuring a safe and suitable environment for tourists in the Red Sea, and reinforcing its position as a leading global tourism destination.
