King Opens Doors to Tourists

In 1853, the British explorer Captain Sir Richard Burton traveled to Mecca and Medina disguised as “Abdullah”, a sheikh from Syria. He was possibly the first Christian ever to see the two holy cities of the Muslim world during Hajj.

Modern tourists are not advised to copy his deception, as both cities are still off limits to non-Muslims. Otherwise, the kingdom has recently become a much more accessible place.

In May this year, the Supreme Commission of Tourism (STC) announced that tourist visas would be made available for non-Muslims for the first time in the country's history. The following month, 18 tour operators were granted permission to issue tourist visas, therefore officially ending the career of “professional” Saudi sponsors, a former requirement to enter the country.

A long-standing ban on photography was also lifted in an effort to attract more visitors wishing to take back some snapshots of the kingdom's many memorable sights, except military installations.

These welcome changes came about when King Abdullah decided that tourism was an industry worth exploiting, even by the world's largest producer of oil. Economic and international relations also have something to do with this new openness.

In 1980, Saudi Arabia was one of the richest countries in the world; today its economy supports twice as many people on an income that is not much higher in real terms. The kingdom is certainly not poor, but surprisingly it is to be found way down the list of the Gulf's richest states.

The ruling Saud family has wisely declared that despite continuous high oil prices, the boom years are over. The main concern nowadays is the future of young Saudis, millions of whom are about to enter the labor market. The tourism sector could provide plenty of jobs for them.

The number of non-religious tourists is at the moment very small, but the SCT hopes to attract 1.5 million non-Muslim visitors by 2020, so that the industry's contribution to GDP will grow to 18 percent from the current 5 percent.

Clusters such as the King Abdullah Economic City, to be built north of Jeddah on the Red Sea, is expected to boost tourism as well as trade and industry. Half a million pilgrims could use the city's tourism facilities, which include 3,500 hotel rooms, a marina and golf courses. The various industries and service-oriented companies that will be needed are expected to create at least 500,000 jobs. For a country where salaries drain 60 percent of the state budget, this will be no small achievement.

Economy apart, there is also a genuine desire to make the country better understood. Saudi Arabia is a symbol of Arab traditions and custodian of the two holy mosques of Islam, but it is also paradoxically an ultra-modern state, with futuristic architecture and first-class infrastructure.

Contrast, in fact, is the kingdom's most distinguishing feature and anybody travelling there will bring back strong memories, mostly positive, as long as local customs are respected.

Travelers should not expect alcohol and women visitors must wear the abaya, the black garment that covers them completely. In spite of these constraints, or perhaps because of them, the kingdom's fascination should be a big draw to Western tourists.

By Marco Venditti