Saudi Arabia’s Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) has hit on a new way to speed up the rehabilitation of dozens of tourist sites in the kingdom, by illuminating them through the evening hours with solar powered lights.
Saudi Arabia tourist officials adopt clean energy lighting
Usama Al Khalawi, Saudi Arabia’s Director General of Tourist Sites Development, explained why renewable energy sources were the ideal solution, given the remoteness of several key tourist sites:
“Solar power is both a lasting and renewable energy; it is inexhaustible and free from harmful emissions. Hence it is preferred substantially in remote areas for technical and economic considerations. This is the main reason for SCTA to use it partially in the rehabilitation project of Shafa Harat Aowairid Overlooking Area in Al Ula municipality, where 90 lighting units were mounted, and each unit includes a solar cell panel and a battery.”
According to Al Khalawi, said that although this was just the first phase of utilizing clean energy lighting in the department’s programs, they had already decided to apply the initiative in several other tourist sites in need of rehabilitation.
He added that the initiative was in line with the SCTA’s long term goal of adopting the latest, most environmentally friendly technologies, to secure unique and distinguished services at the country’s prime tourist sites.
Main image via www.scta.gov.sa