In a bid to boost tourism and diversify the economy, Saudi Arabia has opened its doors to international tourists and invited foreign companies to invest in the country’s tourism sector.
As part of the opening up to international visitors, tourism chief Ahmed Al-Khateeb said that abayas will no longer be mandatory for women tourists, but that modest dressing, including at public beaches, will be expected. Moreover, there would be no restrictions on unaccompanied women traveling to the country. However, he added that access to the Muslim holy cities of Makkah and Medina would continue to be restricted.
He also said a new visa regime would be launched on Friday at Ad Diriyah, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Riyadh, which could see nationals of 49 countries being able to receive visas online for a fee of around $80.
Opening the kingdom to tourism is a key milestone in the implementation of Vision 2030 spearheaded by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, which seeks to diversify the country’s economy and reduce its dependence on oil. The tourism sector has been earmarked in the vision to increase the number of international and domestic visits to 100 million a year in the next 10 years, attract significant foreign and domestic investments, create over a million jobs, and contribute 10 percent to the country’s GDP by 2030,.
In line with this ambitious vision, billions of dollars are being spent to improve infrastructure and develop heritage, cultural and entertainment sites. A number of new tourist destinations are currently under construction, including the futuristic city of Neom, the Qiddiya entertainment city near Riyadh and a range of luxury destinations by the Red Sea. Saudi’s airport capacity is expected to increase by 150 million passengers per annum and an additional 500,000 hotel key cards will be needed across the country over the coming decade.
Chairman of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage, Ahmad Al-Khateeb, said in a recent statement that opening Saudi Arabia to international tourists is a historic moment for our country. “Generous hospitality is at the heart of Arabian culture and we look forward to showing our guests a very warm welcome,” said Al-Khateeb.
Saudi Arabia boasts a surprisingly diverse range of landscapes, including the green mountains of Asir, the crystal waters of the Red Sea, the snow-covered winter plains of Tabuk and the shifting sands of the Empty Quarter. Saudi Arabia is also home to flourishing contemporary culture, with highlights that include the King Abdulaziz Centre for World Culture in Dhahran, the modernist sculpture park along the Corniche in Jeddah, the Jameel House of Traditional Arts in Jeddah, and the Nassif House in Jeddah’s Historical District. Other attractions also include the annual Flowerman Festival in Asir, the Winter at Tantora festival in Al-Ula, and the Red Sea International Film Festival that is expected to launch in March 2020.