President Prince Sultan bin Salman with delegates at the opening of 3rd Saudi Colors forum in Riyadh.

Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) President Prince Sultan bin Salman inaugurated the third edition of the Saudi Colors forum, the largest event in the Kingdom for photography and short films in tourism, culture and heritage, here on Sunday night.

The SCTA chief also awarded winners of the photography competition where 1,700 photographers participated from across the Kingdom highlighting domestic tourism, culture and heritage in their works.

The annual forum includes a national exhibition for photography and a ceremony to honor the winners of Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdul Aziz award for photography and the winners of Saudi Colors competition for photography and short films, besides several workshops and training courses on various related themes.

Aiming to attract citizens and expatriates alike to further promote domestic tourism, the weeklong forum, organized by the SCTA in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and Information and other partners, will continue at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center through Dec. 20. The forum is held to encourage and honor both professional and amateur photographers in an attempt to shed light on the Kingdom’s tourism, heritage and natural sites, rich and diverse society and urban progress.

Earlier, Prince Sultan hailed the partnership between the SCTA and the Ministry of Culture and Information, saying: “Our ties in media and cultural fields through the cooperation agreement has resulted in a number of programs and activities which helped in public awareness and educating people in the fields of tourism and national heritage.”

This year a special pavilion has been set aside for international participants including photographers, diplomats and embassies of friendly countries that will participate with photos on the Kingdom.

According to the organizers, the forum participants also include a number of specialists from the United States, Britain, France, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf region.

A number of public and private bodies are taking part in the forum. These include photography clubs and groups, artistic production companies and individual photographers.

There is also a large pavilion displaying photographs from different regions of the Kingdom.

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