TDT | Manama
Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com
Revolutionizing the landscape of Bahrain’s tourism sector, Parliament’s Services Committee has agreed to a landmark bill, increasing the powers of the Minister of Tourism.
Under the new law, ministers will gain unprecedented powers to enact temporary closures and impose fines of up to BD30,000 on tourism facilities found to be in breach of regulations, strengthening industry standards and ensuring a robust tourism environment. This is an extremely important move.
The new law is expected to reshape the landscape of the Saudi tourism sector and introduce strong measures to protect the industry. Under the revised law, the Minister of Tourism will gain the power to impose restrictions and conditions on approved services, ensuring the protection and vitality of the tourism sector.
This expanded power includes a range of measures, including the downgrading of tourism facilities, temporary suspension of business licenses and activities for up to three months, and even partial or complete closure of facilities until violations are remedied. It will be done. In particular, the Minister can now impose daily administrative fines for violations and removal of violations.
Fines are structured, with first-time offenders receiving fines of up to BD100 per day, while repeat offenses within three years may result in fines of up to BD200 per day. The total amount of administrative fines is limited to BD20,000, with additional discretionary fines not exceeding BD30,000 taking into account the seriousness of the violation.
Cabinet order
The Minister, with the powers conferred by law, may, if necessary, issue decrees providing for violations, corresponding fines and additional penalties.
This move is part of ongoing efforts to regulate the tourism sector, promote its development and ensure a reliable tourism environment. These amendments target three key provisions of the Tourism Act and are aimed at diversifying revenue sources and aligning with Bahrain’s comprehensive tourism strategy.
The introduction of graduated administrative penalties fills a legislative gap, which is critical to maintaining the country’s tourism standards and reputation. The urgency of issuing this legislation into law emphasizes its importance in dealing with crimes according to their seriousness.