Saudi Red Sea Authority issues first swathe of yacht chartering licences
The Saudi Red Sea Authority (SRSA) has issued three yacht chartering licences for the first time in Saudi Arabia. It says it is aiming to enhance coastal tourism services, support the tourism economy, and contribute to achieving the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.
It announced its plans to accelerate its vision earlier this year, and is churning out a slew of milestones as it seeks to open up the Red Sea for marine tourism. However, the country continues to be vilified for its implementation of the death penalty, lack of women’s rights, and lack of freedom of expression. Plus, the country has been accused of using sports sponsorship to try to detract from its record on the above. SRSA has been asked to comment about the balance.
But this next step is part of SRSA’s accelerated efforts to develop the coastal tourism sector by carrying out its core mandate, which include setting policies, strategies, plans, and initiatives to regulate navigational and marine tourism activities, as well as overseeing marina operations, along with issuing the necessary licences and permits to regulate these activities and encourage investment in them.
The licences are designed to allow companies to charter yachts within the Kingdom’s Red Sea region, in accordance with the framework of the Large Yacht Chartering Regulation issued by SRSA.
The list of companies awarded yacht chartering licences includes: Hill Robinson Saudi limited, Faisal M. Higgi & Associates Co. Ltd, and JLS Yachts Limited.
SRSA says it grants yacht chartering licences to companies only after a thorough verification from several aspects, which includes but not limited to: compliance with all SRSA relevant regulations and requirements, ensure seaworthiness of the chartered yachts, following the highest local and international standards in terms of safety, security, and environmental protection, and adherence to all applicable laws in the Kingdom.
Issuing yacht charter licences is part of SRSA’s ongoing efforts to regulate navigational and marine tourism activities, including granting licences to several tourism maritime agents and operators of marinas in the Red Sea, all of which aim to develop and enhance the coastal tourism sector.
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