Saudi Arabia opens to tourists with investment appeal and no abaya rule

By Stephen Kalin

 

FILE PHOTO: A Saudi tour guide stands inside a tomb at Madain Saleh antiquities site, al-Ula, Saudi Arabia February 10, 2019. REUTERS/Stephen Kalin/File Photo

 

RIYADH (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia threw open its doors to foreign tourists on Friday, launching a new visa regime for 49 countries and appealing to foreign companies to invest in a sector it hopes will contribute 10% of gross domestic product by 2030.

 

The ultra-conservative Muslim kingdom, relatively closed off for decades, has in recent years relaxed strict social codes, like segregating men and women in public places and requiring women to wear all-covering black robes, or abayas.

 

Tourism chief Ahmed al-Khateeb told Reuters in an interview ahead of the official announcement that abayas will not be mandatory for women tourists but modest dress is, including at public beaches.

 

He indicated that alcohol remains banned: "We will have enough tourists to come to Saudi Arabia to enjoy other things."

 

Visas will be available online for about $80 (£65), with no restrictions for unaccompanied women as in the past. Access to the Muslim holy cities of Mecca and Medina is restricted.

 

More details, including which countries are eligible, were expected later on Friday. Khateeb said China, Japan, Europe and the United States were among the top outbound targets.

 

Until now, foreigners travelling to Saudi Arabia have been largely restricted to resident workers and their dependents, business travellers, and Muslim pilgrims who are given special visas to visit Mecca and Medina.

 

Plans to admit significant numbers of leisure tourists have been discussed for years, only to be blocked by conservative opinion and bureaucracy. An e-visa for sporting events and concerts was introduced last December.

 

The move is part of de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's ambitious plans to develop new industries to wean the world's top oil exporter off crude and open up society including by introducing previously banned entertainment.

 

Many of his reforms received international praise, but his image has been tarnished by last year's murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, the arrest of critics including prominent women activists, and a devastating war in Yemen.

 

SEEKING INVESTMENTS

Tensions with arch-rival Iran have also flared. Riyadh blames Tehran for an attack earlier this month on Saudi oil facilities, which Iran denies.

 

Khateeb, who chairs the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage, said the country is "very, very safe" and the attack would not impact plans to attract tourists.

 

Tourism is high on the crown prince's agenda, despite a shortage of infrastructure. To drive growth, Khateeb estimated some 250 billion riyals ($67 billion) of investments are needed, including 500,000 new hotel rooms by 2030 -- half at government-backed mega projects and half from private investors.

 

The government wants to attract 100 million annual visits in 2030, up from about 40 million currently. Contribution to GDP is targeted to reach 10% from 3%.

 

Asked about negative perceptions of Saudi Arabia among some in the West, he said: "I’m very, very sure they will have a better judgment when they come and experience the life here in Saudi Arabia, and I promise them they will leave with great memories."

 

The Gulf country, which shares borders with Iraq to the north and Yemen to the south, boasts vast tracts of desert but also verdant mountains, pristine beaches and historical sites including five UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

 

"We remain authentic," said Khateeb. "We have a great culture where many, many tourists would love to come and explore this culture and learn more about it and see it and experience it."

 

The development drive aims at adding 1 million tourism jobs. Getting hundreds of thousands of Saudis into the workforce remains a major challenge for the crown prince, who has so far only managed to make a dent in the official unemployment rate which remains over 12%.

 

(Reporting by Stephen Kalin, Editing by William Maclean)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-09-27

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Would rather be strapped to a red ant nest.

What this may well lead to is a liberalisation of the country with more reforms, I do hope this tourism will be for cultural values and not morbid morons expecting to watch a beheading or two...

 

 

What's the TM30 situation in there?

I spent 15 years working in KSA and travelled around quite a bit during that period. Obviously, it's not the kind of destination that will suit everyone and certainly not the kind of keyboard warriors who will undoubtedly chime on this thread from their bar stools.

 

But I loved it there and had many memorable experiences. I am pleased to see that the country is opening up at last. Saudis are actually very friendly and hospitable people and I'm sure they will go to great lengths to make their news guests welcome.

any minute now Jingthing will be along to tell us how this is better than thailand.

Edited September 27, 20196 yr by NCC1701A

13 minutes ago, Moonlover said:

I spent 15 years working in KSA and travelled around quite a bit during that period. Obviously, it's not the kind of destination that will suit everyone and certainly not the kind of keyboard warriors who will undoubtedly chime on this thread from their bar stools.

 

But I loved it there and had many memorable experiences. I am pleased to see that the country is opening up at last. Saudis are actually very friendly and hospitable people and I'm sure they will go to great lengths to make their news guests welcome.

I spent many years working for and out of there and every other country in the region.  Memorable yes, but obviously my experiences were different from yours.  You may wish to visit but don't take anything with you.  No music, no movies, laptops may have their batteries confiscated otherwise the whole item.  No articles pertaining to any other faith is permitted to name but a few.  Enjoy! 

Edited September 27, 20196 yr by Dellboy218

3 minutes ago, Moonlover said:

Obviously, it's not the kind of destination that will suit everyone and certainly not the kind of keyboard warriors who will undoubtedly chime on this thread from their bar stools.

Can well understand it not being to the liking of bar stool frequenters... ????

 

But there again would be of interest to these who would prefer a holiday without larger louts, though i see the graffiti tossers have already lift their mark ☹️  a very silly thing to do in a country where one can loose their head ...literally.

 

12 hours ago, NCC1701A said:

any minute now Jingthing will be along to tell us how this is better than thailand.

Tim will be along soon to tell how he got a luxury  room for US$ 10 a night in Riyadh ,a beer for a 50 c and a woman all night for kebab breakfast and how it really is such a nice place and alot better than people think 

15 minutes ago, NCC1701A said:

any minute now Jingthing will be along to tell us how this is better than thailand.

You lost, 15 minutes so far.

19 minutes ago, Moonlover said:

Saudis are actually very friendly and hospitable people

Unless you are a Jew, Gay, Lesbian, Tranny or former Muslum or some other Koranic untermensch. 

 

Just the place I want to go. Sand, robes, sodomy, religious intolerance and hey, sorry, please dont behead me for farting near a mosque. Ill give up the Seychelles or  the Maldives to go there.

Include me out.

16 minutes ago, NCC1701A said:

any minute now Jingthing will be along to tell us how this is better than thailand.

I think he tics a couple boxes that make the KSA a non-preferred destination of choice. Along with anyone with half a brain.

and i want to say i am just poking fun at Jingthing. He does provide some excellent content here on TV.

Edited September 27, 20196 yr by NCC1701A

Too little too late.....even Dubai is struggling now to attract business....go to any of the expat bars and its full of Indians nursing small beers (or sharing) .... and stinking the place up with fag smoke ????????

 

Tbh, i cant see much attraction in Dubai for tourists let alone going to Saudi ????

 

 

Ugly country full of ignorant hypocrites, worst place I've ever been..

47 minutes ago, Moonlover said:

Saudis are actually very friendly and hospitable people and I'm sure they will go to great lengths to make their news guests welcome.

Until you say something unsettling about Mohamed, then the gloves are off and so is your head!

This is absolutely fantastic news...............said nobody. 

Tour guide on bus: Inshallah my lovely tourists, to your left there is sand, and to your right - yes more sand. And we're not even at the beach yet! In a moment we'll be passing the public square. Appropriately enough it's just a "stone's throw" from the place where we lock up the adulteresses. Roll up, roll up.

 

Rooster

I can hardly wait to sample the "nightlife".  Yeah, right!!!

11 minutes ago, Jane Dough said:

Tour guide on bus: Inshallah my lovely tourists, to your left there is sand, and to your right - yes more sand. And we're not even at the beach yet! In a moment we'll be passing the public square. Appropriately enough it's just a "stone's throw" from the place where we lock up the adulteresses. Roll up, roll up.

 

Rooster

I am not sure why your tour guide would precede a fact with 'Inshallah' unless he was clueless about Arabic. Maybe he meant 'Alhamdulillah'?

1 hour ago, pegman said:

I think he tics a couple boxes that make the KSA a non-preferred destination of choice. Along with anyone with half a brain.

Half a brain, that's not nice. I think he's great despite his confusion on issues.

Is it now allowed to bring a bible in one's luggage?

44 minutes ago, thequietman said:

Until you say something unsettling about Mohamed, then the gloves are off and so is your head!

There are more than a few countries in the world where saying something negative about some exalted figures, whether fictional or real, will get you in trouble. Maybe the consequences are not always so dire, but showing cultural sensitivity when travelling is never a bad idea. 

11 minutes ago, RuamRudy said:

I am not sure why your tour guide would precede a fact with 'Inshallah' unless he was clueless about Arabic. Maybe he meant 'Alhamdulillah'?

The tour guides won't be Saudis and will be clueless about Arabic. They will be Filipinos or even Thais because the Saudis will never be persuaded to work, especially in something so beneath them. 

 

Rooster

1 hour ago, Dellboy218 said:

I spent many years working for and out of there and every other country in the region.  Memorable yes, but obviously my experiences were different from yours.  You may wish to visit but don't take anything with you.  No music, no movies, laptops may have their batteries confiscated otherwise the whole item.  No articles pertaining to any other faith is permitted to name but a few.  Enjoy! 

Things are changing fast. You would see plenty of changes if you traveled back again. Women driving, women manning check outs, cinemas in shopping malls, concerts on the corniche, lack of mutawas on the streets, shops open during prayer time, men wearing shorts and womens with uncovered faces in coloured clothing.

 

There was articles in the papers during national day last week where they want Saudi to go back to the 1979 lifestyle like Iran was before the Shah was disposed.

 

Its not perfect but give it time for people to adjust. The younger ones want change.

How to use saws and knives are one of their main tourist activities.

Whatever you do ,,, do not even touch a lady or you are dead

I've never been a fan of the Saudis. 

 

As a kid I wouldn't even put my bets on in Mecca. 

 

Rooster

Wouldn't go for free .