Saudi Arabia Seeks to Upgrade Tourism Services in Coastal Areas

A tourism project in the Red Sea (Asharq Al-Awsat)
A tourism project in the Red Sea (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia Seeks to Upgrade Tourism Services in Coastal Areas

A tourism project in the Red Sea (Asharq Al-Awsat)
A tourism project in the Red Sea (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Saudi Red Sea Authority began its field visits to issue the necessary licenses for navigational and maritime tourism activities in the Red Sea, in accordance with its new regulations, with the aim of upgrading the quality and standards of coastal tourism services.

The new regulations came into effect in early November 2023 to promote the growth of coastal tourism while ensuring environmental sustainability.

The field visits target licensing operators of tourist marinas and navigation agents to ensure the sustainability of operations of coastal activities, raise safety levels in the sector, in addition to creating a smooth and unique experience for visitors, and promoting environmental awareness among all segments of society.

The authority conducted 14 visits, which included the governorates of Jeddah, Al-Laith, and the city of Jazan.

The Saudi Red Sea Authority was established in 2021, with the aim of enabling and regulating marine tourism and navigation activities within the geographical scope of the Red Sea in the Kingdom. It also seeks to facilitate coastal tourism activities, support investors, including small and medium enterprises, and contribute to creating job opportunities.

Saudi Arabia announced the official opening of the Red Sea destination in October 2023, welcoming visitors from all over the world. The destination includes the fourth largest thriving coral reef in the world, and extends over an area of ​​more than 28,000 square kilometers on the western coast of Saudi Arabia.



EU May Suspend Syria Sanctions on Energy and Transport

FILE PHOTO: A general view of the commercial harbor of Syria's coastal city of Tartous, Syria, December 14, 2024. REUTERS/Umit Bektas/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A general view of the commercial harbor of Syria's coastal city of Tartous, Syria, December 14, 2024. REUTERS/Umit Bektas/File Photo
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EU May Suspend Syria Sanctions on Energy and Transport

FILE PHOTO: A general view of the commercial harbor of Syria's coastal city of Tartous, Syria, December 14, 2024. REUTERS/Umit Bektas/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A general view of the commercial harbor of Syria's coastal city of Tartous, Syria, December 14, 2024. REUTERS/Umit Bektas/File Photo

The European Union may soon suspend sanctions on Syria related to energy and transport but has yet to agree on whether to ease restrictions on financial transactions, according to three diplomats and a document seen by Reuters.
EU foreign ministers will discuss the matter at a meeting in Brussels on Monday. The bloc’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas told Reuters on Wednesday she hopes a political agreement on easing the sanctions can be reached at the gathering.
Europe’s approach to Damascus began to shift after Bashar al-Assad was ousted as president in December by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which the United Nations designates as a terrorist group.
Officials see transport as key for helping Syria’s airports become fully operational, which in turn could facilitate the return of refugees. Energy and electricity are similarly seen as important for improving living conditions to help stabilize the country and encourage citizens to come back.
According to an EU document seen by Reuters, diplomats from the bloc's 27 members recommended taking swift action towards suspending the restrictions "in sectors necessary for economic stabilization and launch of economic reconstruction of Syria, such as those regarding energy and transport”.
The diplomats, who are part of a group that negotiates the EU’s foreign policy positions on issues related to the Middle East and North Africa, also recommended “assessing options for reopening banking and investment relations with Syria”.
“The easing of EU restrictive measures would be rolled out in a staged approach and in a reversible manner, regularly assessing if the conditions in Syria allow for further suspension,” the diplomats wrote, pointing to the need for respect for fundamental freedoms and an inclusive transition.
The wording of the document represents a compromise among EU capitals. Some governments want to move quickly to suspend sanctions, while others prefer a more careful and gradual approach to ensure Europe retains leverage.
If a political agreement is announced on Monday, European officials would proceed to work on the technical details of a suspension.
A number of sanctions should remain in place, according to the document, including measures related to the Al-Assad regime, illicit drug trade and arms trade.