Saudi Arabia plans to get issuing tourist visas "soon", authorities said Tuesday, every bit the ultra-conservative kingdom seeks to attract international visitors inwards a radical overhaul of its oil-dependent economy.
Tourism is seen every bit a major driver of increment every bit the kingdom attempts to wean itself off its dependence on petrodollars among a protracted fossil oil slump.
"Tourist visas volition endure introduced soon," Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdul Aziz, caput of the Saudi tourism authority, was quoted every bit proverb inwards a statement. He did non specify a fourth dimension frame.
Aside from millions of Muslims who go to Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the annual hajj pilgrimage, almost visitors currently aspect upward a like shooting fish in a barrel visa procedure in addition to exorbitant fees to larn inwards the kingdom.
Prince Sultan's comment comes ahead of Saudi Arabia's kickoff archeology convention inwards Riyadh adjacent calendar week every bit the regime seeks to showcase approximately of its historic sites.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman inwards August announced a massive tourism projection to plough fifty islands in addition to a string of sites on the Red Sea into luxury resorts.
Although richly endowed amongst natural beauty, the kingdom is hardly seen every bit a tourism hotspot.
Alcohol, cinemas in addition to theatres are withal banned inwards the kingdom, an absolute monarchy in addition to i of the world's almost conservative countries.
But authorities inwards recent months accept sought to projection a moderate picture amongst a string of reforms, including the conclusion allowing women to receive from adjacent June.
The kingdom is too expected to elevator a world ban on cinemas in addition to has encouraged mixed-gender celebrations -- something seldom seen before.
The moves look designed to projection the kingdom inwards a favourable low-cal every bit it seeks to attract badly needed unusual investment.
AFP