For most Western readers, a vacation may not be the first thing that comes to mind when they hear the words ‘Saudi Arabia.’ The Persian Gulf kingdom certainly doesn’t exactly have the elements that most American or European holidaymakers would seek – the country’s harsh interpretation of Islamic law forbids alcohol and places considerable restrictions on women, for example.
Cancun, this is not.
Well, no. The likelihood of getting arrested for infringing these regressive Islamic laws is far too high a risk, frankly. Hardly a holiday. Unless you fancy watching some poor sap getting their head cut off for daring to oppose the regime – or flogged, of course. Maybe they could sell tickets for the latest stoning or crucifixion.
And yet, Saudi royals are increasingly pinning their economic hopes on a tourist-friendly future. Last year one Saudi official described tourism as the country’s “second most important economic sector.” And now with the country’s new Vision 2030 plan – a remarkably ambitious economic blueprint for shaking the country’s “addiction” to the oil industry – Saudi Arabia is putting its money where its mouth is, with plans to increase investment in the tourism sector from $8 billion to almost $46 billion in 2020.
Um, how can I put this… I’ll be ice skating in Hades before I set foot in that hateful shit-hole of a country.
Apparently as a holiday destination it’s even cheaper than Turkey at the moment…
Is it? Odd how the Syrians seem to prefer Turkey as a destination …
Puzzles me how this’ll work. You ever tried to get a visa to enter Saudi? Probably not. See http://www.visabureau.com/worldwide/saudi-arabia-visa.aspx , for instance, “Saudi Arabia tourist visas are only issued to people visiting family or friends” and “visas are only granted to those with sponsorship in the country”.
(And that of course assumes anyone would actually want to visit for “pleasure”. Not a lot to do that you can’t do far better elsewhere, and a damn big place to not do it in.)
Perhaps the KSA has in mind the millions of pilgrims making their annual hajj to Mecca. Given that thousands have been killed in recent years due to overcrowding, and that the global population of muslims is rapidly increasing – combined with ever-cheaper air travel – I’d say the KSA is simply anticipating future demand and preparing accordingly.
The way that they keep killing each other, I expect that Islam will disappear soon. We can but hope.
I remember mis-hearing a song lyric some years ago. It was an Amy Winehouse number and for months I thought the first line said, “They wanted me to go to Riyadh, I said No No No”.
Maybe they need to market the holidays at the S&M community ;<)
It is interesting that they are actually self aware enough to realise that they will eventually run out of oil, and have also realised how utterly screwed they are going to be when they do. Presumably it is beyond them to manufacture anything that people would want to buy? Are there enough Muslims worldwide to make enough pilgrimages to support the KSA economy once it happens? Or are they seriously expecting the rest of us to want to go there? Apart from the obvious dangers of having my bottom caned until it turns purple or having my head cut off, I really wouldn't want to give these revolting people a single penny of my money. So the obvious thing to say to them is, "Good luck with that".
Likewise. I’ve been approached on a couple of occasions to work there. Not while there is breath in my body will I travel to that godforsaken hell-hole.
From camels to Cadillacs and back again,soon.
They are keen on tourists of the haji type – not much else.
After all – some say that Mo started his religion as he was jealous of the other stall holders in the pilgrim tripper trap of Mecca and wanted all the trade…
At least that’s what I took from “The Satanic Verses” fwiw