Tourism Law

1. Without prejudice to any harsher penalty stipulated in another law nor to the right of an aggrieved party to be compensated for any damage sustained as a result of violating the provisions of this Law, any person who violates any of the provisions of this Law or its Regulations shall be subject to one or more of the following penalties: a) A warning notice. b) Temporary or permanent closure of the tourist facility or part thereof. c) Lowering of classification. d) Suspension of license for a period not exceeding one year. e) Revocation of license. f) A fine not exceeding one million riyals. 2. The committee referred to in Article 15(1) of this Law may: a) impose a fine on the violator for each day the violation continues after notification of the committee’s decision; said fine shall be calculated from the date specified by such decision. b) double the fine imposed on the violator without exceeding its maximum limit in case the violation is repeated; a violation shall be deemed repeated if committed within one year from the date of committing the previous violation. c) include in the penalty decision the publication of its contents at the expense of the violator in a local newspaper issued in the area of his residence or, if his area has no local newspaper, in the local newspaper nearest to his place of residence, or by using any other appropriate medium, depending on the type, gravity, and impact of the violation; the decision shall be published only after it becomes final either upon the lapse of the statutory period or the issuance of a final ruling thereon. 3. The penalty decision shall include a provision compelling the violator to rectify the violation, pay the damages, and refund collected amounts to their owners, if any. Collected amounts and gains shall be deposited with the State treasury. 4. The penalty shall be proportionate to the violation, taking into consideration the nature and gravity of the violation, as well as aggravating and mitigating circumstances. 5. The Minister shall issue a table comprising a classification of violations and their corresponding penalties, as provided for in paragraph (1) of this Article, Tourism Law as well as the amount and duration of such penalties, taking into account the gradual application thereof. Said table shall include violations that entail a fine not exceeding ten thousand riyals instantly issued by the competent inspector upon detection. 6. Decisions issued by the Ministry may be appealed before the Administrative Court within 60 days from the date of notification of the decision.