The following terms and expressions, used herein, shall have the meanings assigned thereto, unless the context requires otherwise:

Law: The Tourism Law.

Regulations: The Regulations of Tour Operators issued in implementation of the provisions of the Law and all decisions issued in connection therewith.

Ministry: Ministry of Tourism

Minister: Minister of Tourism

Competent Department: The General Licensing Department; any other relative department in Ministry of Tourism or any of its branches across the Kingdom; and Ministry of Tourism representative in the municipality, submunicipality, or MISA (if authorized), in accordance with the Procedure Manuals.

Tour Operator: The licensee who organizes, sells, and promotes tourist tours and programs inside or outside the Kingdom on a regular basis, in return for specific amount of money. A Tour Operator may provide two or more of the services set out in the Law or Regulations.

Licensing: The process that includes the phases during which the applicant satisfies the requirements set forth in the Regulations for obtaining the License.

License: A document issued by Ministry of Tourism to the Tour Operator, for a specified term, to practice tour operation services in accordance with the provisions of the Law and the Regulations.

Licensee: Any natural person holding a valid License and Classification Certificate issued by Ministry of Tourism to practice tour operation services in accordance with the Regulations.

Classification: A process that includes identifying, describing, and assessing the level of services provided by the Tour Operator, and which is divided into specific categories in accordance with the Regulations.

Tour Guide: Any natural person licensed to practice Tour Guide services and accompany tourists to tourist attractions in the Kingdom, and provide tourists with information relating to such attractions, for a fee.

Tourist Program: A tourist trip plan providing services in exchange for specific fees which covers two services, or more than the services specified in the Law or Regulations, with the aim of enjoying a tourist experience inside or outside the Kingdom.

Head Office: The headquarters of the office and its Official Address for exchanging with relevant agencies communications, correspondence, and notifications related to tour operation.

Branch: Any place that is administratively and organizationally affiliated with the Head Office, including those located in the buildings of other entities, for the purpose of operating tours in accordance with the Law and the Regulations.

Marketing Outlet: Any place that is administratively and organizationally affiliated with the Head Office, including those located in the buildings of other entities, for the purpose of promoting the services of Tour Operators in accordance with Law, Regulations, and Procedure Manuals.

Online shop: An electronic platform that allows a service provider to display or sell a product, provide or advertise a service, or share its information in accordance with the regulations in force in the Kingdom.

Tourist Programs Platform: An electronic platform to monitor the performance of tour operators and guides, measure their efficiency and impact on tourism landscape in the Kingdom, and regulate their work when marketing and implementing tourist programs. Practitioners of Tour Operations: Licensed and unlicensed persons.

Tour Operator Officials: Any person legally contracted by the Licensee to work at the Head Office, Branch, or Marketing Outlet in an occupation related to the practice of Tour Operation.

Price List: A list of the fees for the services rendered by the Head Office, Branch, or Marketing Outlet.

Fees: Approved charges collected by Ministry of Tourism for the services it provides in accordance with the Law and the Regulations.

Procedure Manuals: Documents, instructions, and criteria related to the requirements for practicing tour operation services in accordance with the provisions of the Law, the Regulations, and instructions and circulars issued by Ministry of Tourism

Electronic System: the electronic system that sets out the procedures, requirements, conditions, documents, guidelines and standards related to doing tour operator business in accordance with the provisions of the system, regulations, procedure manual, instructions and circulars issued by the Ministry.

Competent Committee: The committee entrusted with investigating the violations of the Law and the Regulations and imposing the penalties set forth in the Law.

Technical Means: The electronic devices specified by the Procedure Manuals that are considered a form of the Detection Record.

Detection Record: The tool used by Ministry of Tourism during Control and Inspection for the detection of Violations, according to the mechanism determined by the Competent Department.

Mystery Shopper: each specialized inspector who conducts secret and unannounced evaluation of tour operators to measure quality of services provided and compliance with the rules, regulations and standards by trying out one or more of the services provided by tour operators.

Inspection: Examinations and visits carried out by the inspector to places where the tour operator works to ensure compliance with the provisions of the Law and the Regulations.

Inspector: Any person authorized pursuant to a decision issued by the Minister, or his designee, to perform examination, Control, and Inspection with regard to the work of Practitioners of Tour Operations.

Control: Works and procedures that are specified in the Procedure Manuals and implemented by Ministry of Tourism to ensure the compliance of Practitioners of Tour Operations with the Law and the Regulations.

Violation: Any act that violates the provisions of the Law or the Regulations and is detected by the competent officer.

Official Addresses: The contact information, including national address, provided by the License and Classification applicants and the Licensees in accordance with the Procedure Manuals, which is necessary for receiving the correspondence and decisions issued by Ministry of Tourism and the Competent Committee.

Guarantee Letter: A final and unconditional undertaking issued by a bank licensed by the Saudi Central Bank upon the request of the Licensee or the License or Classification applicant. The guarantee amount shall be payable to Ministry of Tourism upon request.

Consumer: Any natural or legal person who receives paid or unpaid commodities or services that fulfill his needs or the needs of others.

1. The Regulations shall apply to the Practitioner who provides through the Head Office, Branch, or Marketing Outlet one or more of the following services provided by Tour Operators, or any services related thereto, in accordance with the Classification Class and the Regulations:

• a. Arranging transportation and car rental services for tourism purposes.

• b. Arranging tourist accommodation and lodging.

• c. Arranging tourist catering.

• d. Arranging recreational services.

• e. Arranging tour guide services.

• f. Arranging travel insurance with licensed insurance companies upon obtaining the approval of relevant authorities.

• g. Destination management services.

• h. Brokerage business with approved insurance companies.

• i. Arranging visiting services for events, exhibitions and conferences.

2. The Minister shall, based on a proposal submitted thereto by the Competent Department, issue a decision for including additional works or services under tour operation services in accordance with the Law and the Regulations

Tour operation services, and any other services stipulated in Article 2 of the Regulations, may not be practiced or offered without obtaining both the License and the Classification Certificate in accordance with the provisions of the Law and the Regulations. This shall apply to services offered electronically or via the Internet.

1- Application for license to conduct tour operator business for the main office or a branch office, shall be submitted via the online system approved by the Ministry using the form, and in accordance with the process set out in the Procedure Manuals.

2- The applicant for license shall satisfy the following conditions, requirements and documents:

• 1-2 The applicant for license must satisfy the following conditions and provide evidence as per the Procedure Manuals:

• a) Saudi national – natural person, corporate person, male, female, or foreign investor with a valid license, in accordance with the applicable laws and regulations.

• b) No decision or ruling was issued to revoke a license against the applicant due to violating law and regulations in the last one year preceding submission of the application.

• 2-2 Commercial registration of the corporation or company including the trade name of the main office for which the license is to be issued, or an evidence of registration with the approved electronic shop registration body, such as “Maroof”

• 2-3 Municipality license issued to practice tour organizing business if the license is requested for the main office that is located on a commercial street, or providing evidence of the business being conducted through the electronic shop in accordance with the regulations in force in the Kingdom

• 2-4 Providing a primary concept for conducting the business in accordance with the objectives of the general national tourism development strategy, as set out in the Procedure Manuals.

• 2-5 Undertaking to use the tourism programs platform before implementing any tourism program to provide the Ministry with direct data and information via the platform and help monitor the number of visitors benefiting from the tourist programs, in accordance with the process approved by the Ministry.

• 2-6 Consent to the relevant undertakings set out in the Procedure Manuals.

• 2-7 Payment of the license fee set out in the Procedure Manuals.

• 2-8 Payment of any fines decided by the Ministry against the license applicant.

3- The Ministry is entitled to require the licensee to provide financial guarantees upon requests, and in accordance with the Procedure Manuals.

If the applicant wishes to open the main office or branch office, inside the premises of public or private entities (such as hospitals, companies and their branches, business incubators and accelerators, government departments, airports, hotels, or residential complexes), vial the electronic system approved by the Ministry, the licensee must:

• 1- Attach a copy of the contract entered with the beneficiary party indicating the term and proposed location.

• 2- Satisfy the license issuing conditions and requirements set out in Article 4 of these Regulations, except the municipality license requirements.

The license will be issued electronically for three years, which will be renewable in accordance with the provisions of Article (4) of the regulations, as set out in the Procedure Manuals.

The Competent Department shall maintain the license data in accordance with the Procedure Manuals, including:

• 1. License details in accordance with the provisions of the regulations.

• 2. Headquarters of the main office, branches, marketing outlet, and their respective official addresses.

• 3. Licensee’s name and details.

• 4. Name and data of manager in charge and the employees of the main office, branches, and marketing outlet.

• 5. Violations and penalties imposed on the licensee.