| Ministry of Tourism | |
| Native Name: | Arabic: وزارة السياحة |
| Formed: | as the Supreme Commission for Tourism |
| Preceding1: | Supreme Commission for Tourism (2000 – 2008) |
| Preceding2: | Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (2008 – 2015) |
| Preceding3: | Saudi Commission for Tourism and Heritage (2015 – 2020) |
| Jurisdiction: | Government of Saudi Arabia |
| Headquarters: | 7775 Amr Al Damri Street, as-Safarat, Riyadh 12512, Saudi Arabia |
| Chief1 Name: | Ahmed bin Aqil al-Khateeb |
| Chief1 Position: | Minister of Tourism |
| Child1 Agency: | Saudi Tourism Authority |
| Child2 Agency: | Tourism Development Fund |
| Child3 Agency: | Tourism Development Council (TDC) |
| Child4 Agency: | Tourism Information and Research Center (MAS) |
The Ministry of Tourism (MoT; Arabic: وزارة السياحة|translit=Wizārah al-Sīāḥah), before 2020 as the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTH),[1] [2] till 2015 as the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) and prior to 2008 as the Supreme Commission for Tourism (SCT), is a government ministry in Saudi Arabia that is concerned with the tourism sector of the country. Established in the year 2000 through a royal decree by King Fahd, it was transformed into a ministry in 2020.
SCTH foundation has passed through several stages before reaching to its current structure by becoming the only public administration authorized and responsible for tourism and national heritage in the Kingdom. These stages are as follows:
From the outset, the main objective of the establishment of SCTH has been to pay attention to all aspects of the tourism sector in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with respect to its organization, development, and promotion. SCTH is also assigned to work for strengthening of the role of tourism and overcoming barriers impeding its growth, given the Kingdom's huge tourism potential. Its efforts include preservation, development and maintenance of antiquities and activation of tourism’s contribution to cultural and economic development.
In February 2019, the Ministry of Tourism launched a demo program called "Saudi seasons 2019", which conducts 11 tourism seasons that cover most of Saudi provinces, the program was produced by a higher committee supervised by crown prince Mohammed Bin Salman Al-Saud, as well as Ministry of Culture, General Entertainment Authority, General Sports Authority, and Saudi Exhibition & Convention Bureau, moreover, this program is considered the first of its kind on a regional level, the program consists of a number of culture, sports, entertainment, and business related events, the main goals of "Saudi seasons 2019" were to level-up the quality of Saudi resident lives, increasing economic activity in the country, providing working opportunities for Saudis, and supporting tourism in Saudi.
| Eastern Province season | March | |
| Ramadan season | May | |
| Eid Al-Fitr season | June | |
| Taif season | August | |
| Jeddah season | June | |
| National Saudi Day season | September | |
| Riyadh season | October–November–December | |
| Al-Diriyah season | December | |
| Hail season | December–January–February | |
| Al-Ula season | December–January–February |
In an effort to translate government’s reform and economic restructuring to reality, SCTH has carried out the following tasks:
Since March 2001, SCTH, simultaneously with its restructuring process, has planned for integrated national economic project, aiming at developing tourism in the Kingdom during the next twenty years. This comes in the light of its vision on the importance of strategic planning for goals and raise economic efficiency and management.
This comprehensive planning project in its third stage has paid off in the preparation of General Strategy of National Tourism Development, the fifth executive plan (intensive care phase), and 13 provincial strategies for tourism development.
STCH launched the "Saudi Archaeological Masterpieces through the Ages" exhibition in July 2018 which they displayed 400 rare artifacts of Saudi Arabia's cultural heritage in the United States and in China.
The idea was put forward by former President of France Jacques Chirac at the “Masterpieces of Islamic Art” exhibition at the National Museum of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh during his visit to Saudi Arabia in 2006 and was taken into consideration by King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud. The exhibition was inaugurated in 2010 during the reign of King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud at Louvre Museum, Paris, France. After its success in Paris, the exhibition was further carried out by STCH in several other European, American and European countries.[3]
See also: List of museums in Saudi Arabia and Museums in Riyadh.
MAS is the Arabic acronym for Tourism Information and Research Center, It is an important department of the SCTH responsible for collecting tourism data and conducting researches and related studies. According to the Article 4, paragraph 3, of the SCTH statute, a Tourism Information and Research Centre shall be established to develop and promote tourism, and to issue tourism publications in coordination with the concerned parties. Accordingly, in 2002 the Centre was established.
Takamul is a program launched by the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage. The main aim of the program is to qualify Saudi professionals to manage and operate the tourism sector in Saudi Arabia.[4] The program is mainly tailored to provide training courses that qualify as international accredited tour guides.[5] To date, 9,631 young Saudis have benefited from the programs.[6]