The ministry intends to ensure that every establishment adheres to the Tourism Law and its associated rules. Credit: NewJadsada / Shutterstock.

The Saudi Ministry of Tourism has mandated the delisting of unlicensed tourist and private hospitality facilities from all reservation platforms and applications effective immediately.

This enforcement aims to elevate service standards for tourists within the Kingdom. Non-compliant platforms will be subject to sanctions.

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The measure, which is effective from 1 January 2025, is part of a larger effort to enforce compliance with licensing and classification norms in the hospitality industry, reported The Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

The ministry’s goal is to guarantee that all entities conform to the stipulations of the Tourism Law and its regulations.

Facilities offering tourist and private hospitality services are required to secure or update their licences before initiating operations.

Unauthorised operations may lead to punitive actions such as fines up to SR1m ($266,040), cessation of business activities, or both, along with potential public disclosure of the infraction.

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The ministry’s directive comes after noticing instances where facilities were promoted on booking platforms without proper licensing.

Consequently, travel and tourism service providers—encompassing both domestic and global platforms—have been instructed to eliminate listings of such facilities forthwith.

Platforms are also responsible for ensuring that any displayed classification information is consistent with official ministry designations.

The ministry’s ‘Our Guests Are Priority’ campaign highlights the importance of licensing and classification compliance, as reported by the Saudi Gazette.

It encourages patrons to report concerns or share feedback regarding their service experiences by reaching out to the Unified Tourism Center.