RIYADH — The Ministry of Tourism is moving towards mandating a minimum number of employees for tourist hospitality facilities, based on the number of rooms and the establishment’s classification.
This initiative is part of the scheme of “minimum staffing requirements for tourist hospitality facilities”, which was released for public consultation a few days ago. The aim is to ensure adequate workforce capacity, improve service quality, and enhance operational efficiency, in line with the significant growth witnessed in Saudi tourism.
The draft requirements specify three employees per room for luxury five-star hotels, hotel villas, hotel apartments, and resorts; four employees per five rooms for five-star establishments; three employees per five rooms for four-star establishments; two employees per five rooms for three-star establishments; and one employee per five rooms for two-star establishments. The minimum requirement is one employee per ten rooms for one-star establishments and unclassified facilities.
The regulations stipulate one employee per 10 rooms for hostels, three employees per five rooms for heritage hotels, one employee per five rooms for first-class serviced apartments, and one employee per eight rooms for economy-class apartments. These ratios are the same as those established for holiday homes, both first-class and economy-class.
The regulations require hospitality establishments to maintain the minimum number of employees continuously throughout the calendar year. Establishments, which obtained license, before the regulations come into effect will be granted a grace period of no more than 180 days to comply, while establishments moving to a higher classification will be given a grace period of no more than 90 days to reach the required number of employees.
The Ministry of Tourism relies on data from the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development to verify employee numbers. Employees will be counted based on those registered in the establishment’s file, either directly or through affiliated operating companies on the “Ajeer” platform. Establishments are required to update employee data within three months of making any changes.
According to the plan, compliance monitoring and penalties for violators will begin on January 1, 2027, with violations subject to the Tourism Law and its executive regulations. These regulations come at a time when Saudi tourism is experiencing unprecedented growth. The number of domestic and international tourists is projected to reach approximately 123 million in 2025, representing growth of nearly 6 percent compared to 2024. Total tourism spending is also expected to reach a record high of approximately SR304 billion, according to the Ministry of Tourism’s annual statistical report.
This rapid tourism boom underscores the need to enhance the readiness of hospitality facilities and increase workforce efficiency, particularly given the growing demand for hotels, serviced apartments, resorts, and various other types of tourist accommodation across the Kingdom.
Source: Saudi Gazette