Decision aims to provide an attractive investment environment for investors and enhance competitiveness in the sector It will play a role in developing the tourism sector’s infrastructure RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has decided to suspend municipal fees for issuing licenses for commercial activity of hotels, hotel apartments ,and residential resorts, effective from Sept. 4. The decision was issued by Minister of Municipalities and Housing Majid Al-Hogail as an extension of the continuous efforts to facilitate municipal procedures and services in Saudi cities, to develop the tourism sector, and to raise the quality of tourism services, the ministry said in a statement. It also aims to provide an attractive investment environment for investors and enhance competitiveness in the sector. The decision comes in line with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 to turn the Kingdom into one of the most prominent tourist destinations in the world and to encourage investment in the tourism sector to benefit from the promising opportunities. It will also play a role in developing the tourism sector’s infrastructure, especially hospitality facilities and reducing operating costs. The ministries of municipalities and housing and tourism called on investors in the sector to benefit from the decision by issuing or renewing a commercial activity license for hotels, hotel apartments and residential resorts through the Balady platform. They also called on investors to adhere to the requirements and work to improve and develop their facilities to ensure sustainability and quality in tourism services. The ministries said they are organizing a group of workshops and introductory and awareness sessions for owners of hotels, hotel apartments and residential resorts to explain and clarify the decision, and provide the necessary support and advice to investors in the tourism sector. The decision comes as a strategic step to support investors and encourage them to pump more investments into the tourism sector, which contributes to creating new job opportunities and increasing the sector’s contribution to the gross domestic product. It is also one of the investment enablers initiatives in the tourism sector that was launched in March to facilitate investment in Saudi tourism.