It's a first. Saudi Arabia announced Friday (September 27th) that it will issue tourist visas. According to Bloomberg News, this visa will be delivered online to citizens of 49 countries.
Until now, the ultra-conservative kingdom only issued visas to pilgrims, expatriates and, recently, to spectators of sporting events or cultural events.
The development of tourism is one of the main axes of the "Vision 2030" reform program of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, which aims to prepare the largest Arab economy for a post-oil era. Devastating attacks on several Saudi oil infrastructure have recently shaken global energy markets.
"Opening Saudi Arabia to international tourists is a historic moment for our country," Ahmed al-Khateeb, director of tourism, said in a statement. "Visitors will be surprised to discover the treasures we have to share: five UNESCO World Heritage Sites, a vibrant local culture and breathtaking natural beauty."
Dress code relaxed
Ahmed al-Khateeb said the kingdom would loosen the dress code for foreign women, and allow them to walk without carrying the abaya, the traditional dress mandatory in public for Saudi women. However, foreign visitors will have to wear "modest clothes", he added.
The austere kingdom, which prohibits alcohol and where social standards are very strict, is generally not considered a very "sell" destination for tourism. But Prince Mohammed bin Salman wants to change this perception and has already instilled several liberal reforms that have allowed the opening of cinemas and the organization of concerts or sports events in the country.
In early August, the kingdom allowed women over 21 to obtain a passport and travel abroad without the permission of a male "guardian". And the Saudis had already obtained the right to drive a car in June 2018.
One million jobs
The government, which faces fairly low oil prices, hopes that tourism will grow and account for 10% of Saudi gross domestic product by 2030. The country's leaders hope to create up to a million jobs related to this sector, according to the government, which faces a high youth unemployment rate.
Saudi Arabia has spent billions of dollars trying to build a tourism industry from scratch. In 2017, the kingdom announced a multi-billion dollar project to transform 50 islands and other virgin Red Sea sites into luxury beach resorts. The country is also developing archaeological sites like Madain Saleh, which houses sandstone tombs of the same civilization as the one that built the famous Jordanian ancient city of Petra.
International critics of human rights abuses in the kingdom, including last year's bloody murder of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi, could cool foreign tourists.
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With AFP