Saudi Red Sea Authority (SRSA), the key enabler and official regulator of coastal tourism in the kingdom’s Red Sea, has signed a MoU with Heritage Commission, the entity responsible for regulating and developing the heritage sector in the kingdom, in a move aimed at defining general frameworks for co-operation in areas of common jurisdiction.
The MoU aligns with the Authority’s mission, which aims to issue licenses and permits as its regulates navigational and marine activities.
Additionally, it seeks to cooperate and exchange experiences with regional and international bodies and organizations, and promote navigational and marine tourism activities in the Red Sea to attract targeted practitioners, said a statement from SRSA.This MoU includes items related to the exchange of experiences within the scope of work of the two parties, including the underwater cultural heritage of the Red Sea, remarked its Acting CEO Mohammed Al Asiri after signing the deal with Dr. Jasser bin Suleiman Al Harbash, the CEO of Heritage Commission.
The memorandum is part of SRSA’s efforts to expand its strategic partnerships, exchange expertise and learn about best practices to promote coastal tourism, enable sustainable development, and highlight the Red Sea’s potential as a global tourist destination while preserving and protecting the natural environment, aside from consolidating the Kingdom’s pivotal position and role as a key cultural hub, in line with Saudi Vision 2030 goals, he added.According to SRSA, the MoU focuses on working together in proposing regulations related to common goals, following up on requirements for issuing marine and underwater heritage surveys and excavation permits, enacting measures to preserve marine heritage, providing support for documenting marine and submerged heritage in the Red Sea, and ensuring technical cooperation to achieve mutual goals.
It also includes cooperation in intangible cultural heritage, by providing support for registering sites within the Authority’s domain on the Unesco World Heritage List and exchanging data and information on such sites.The MoU will also see the duo coordinate community awareness programmes and launch initiatives to promote cultural heritage assets and marine heritage as intangible cultural heritage, in addition to marine tourism and recreational activities, it added.
