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Saudi Arabia opens its doors to tourists
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/ma...ixtrvhome.html
Saudi Arabia opens its doors to tourists By Teresa Machan (Filed: 13/05/2006) Saudi Arabia hopes to attract a million visitors a year with the help of a new tourism visa. Eighteen approved tour operators in the kingdom have begun offering visa services as part of a series of tourism initiatives announced last week at the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai. The Saudi government is also to begin issuing permits for tour guides from next month. Until now, Saudi Arabia has been a place where people go to work rather than play: the population of 24 million includes seven million foreign workers, 24,000 of them Britisf nationals. Alcohol is banned, as is photography of government buildings and palaces. Islamic principles and social customs are strictly observed and the country adheres to Sharia law, which allows corporal and capital punishment. In line with its Middle Eastern neighbours, the Saudi government has recognised the potential economic benefits of tourism as world oil reserves dwindle. Raed Habiss, managing director of one of the tour operators, Destinations of the Kingdom, said Saudi Arabia was keen to attract British visitors and would offer attractive rates to travel agents. Among the first deals on offer was seven nights at a five-star hotel in Jeddah, including guided tours, from £750 (excluding flights). "It is a country of cultural and geographical diversity," Mr Habiss said. "As well as coast, mountains and desert, we have spectacular heritage sites, unexplored dive sites and theme parks designed by Disney engineers." Wildlife includes the Arabian leopard and the oryx. Hoteliers are also showing confidence in Saudi Arabia. Hilton has chosen Jeddah for its first all-suite property, to open later this month, and the Swiss chain Mövenpick has signed contracts for three properties in the country, including a five-star hotel in Yanbu on the Red Sea coast. The luxury American chain Rosewood is to open a third hotel in Jeddah, which, in a first for the country, will have a dedicated female floor staffed entirely by women. Last month, Bmi began a three-times weekly service from Heathrow to Jeddah to complement a similar service to Riyadh, launched last year. A spokesman said there had been a steady increase in passengers using the Riyadh service and similar traffic was expected to Jeddah. A Saudi Arabian low-cost airline, Sama, is due to be launched this summer. Mr Habiss said that concerns over Saudi Arabia's less-than-favourable image overseas were unfounded. "Saudi Arabia is part of the modern world now. We cannot continue to be isolated. The Western perception is different from the reality. Saudis are known for their hospitality, and visitors who come will feel very differently." Male and female visitors will have to cover up. Foreign females must don the full-length abaya, and women under 40 must be accompanied by a male relative. A tourist visa can be issued as part of a package to groups of a minimum four people. No British tour operators have immediate plans to feature Saudi Arabia, but Kuoni, which offers trips to Oman, Jordan, Lebanon and the UAE, will wait to gauge demand. |
Saudi Arabia opens its doors to tourists
"eetinBelgië" wrote Saudi Arabia opens its doors to tourists By Teresa Machan (Filed: 13/05/2006) Saudi Arabia hopes to attract a million visitors a year with the help of a new tourism visa. Make that 999,999 Gerry |
Saudi Arabia opens its doors to tourists
Dave Frightens Me wrote: On 17 May 2006 00:17:28 -0700, "eetinBelgië" wrote: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/ma...ixtrvhome.html Saudi Arabia opens its doors to tourists By Teresa Machan (Filed: 13/05/2006) In line with its Middle Eastern neighbours, the Saudi government has recognised the potential economic benefits of tourism as world oil reserves dwindle. I am sure tourists will happily walk and swim there in droves when the dwindling occurs. "All in all, I'd rather be in Albania..." -- Best Greg |
Saudi Arabia opens its doors to tourists
On 17 May 2006 00:17:28 -0700, "eetinBelgië"
wrote: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/ma...ixtrvhome.html Saudi Arabia opens its doors to tourists By Teresa Machan (Filed: 13/05/2006) In line with its Middle Eastern neighbours, the Saudi government has recognised the potential economic benefits of tourism as world oil reserves dwindle. I am sure tourists will happily walk and swim there in droves when the dwindling occurs. -- --- DFM - http://www.deepfriedmars.com --- -- |
Saudi Arabia opens its doors to tourists
Saudi Arabia opens its doors to tourists By Teresa Machan (Filed: 13/05/2006) Saudi Arabia hopes to attract a million visitors a year with the help of a new tourism visa. Make that 999,999 Gerry Just male tourists? I can't think of a single female who would voluntarily go there.... |
Saudi Arabia opens its doors to tourists
Following up to Dave Frightens Me
In line with its Middle Eastern neighbours, the Saudi government has recognised the potential economic benefits of tourism as world oil reserves dwindle. I am sure tourists will happily walk and swim there in droves when the dwindling occurs. I wonder if they have thought of that? -- Mike Reid Walk-eat-photos UK "http://www.fellwalk.co.uk" -- you can email us@ this site Walk-eat-photos Spain "http://www.fell-walker.co.uk" -- dontuse@ all, it's a spamtrap |
Saudi Arabia opens its doors to tourists
Following up to Pat in TX
Just male tourists? I can't think of a single female who would voluntarily go there.... Mecca must be impressive, tour of the shrine with my wife and a few cool beers girl watching afterwards, just avoid the Haj, its a bit of a crush I hear....why are you all shaking your heads? -- Mike Reid Walk-eat-photos UK "http://www.fellwalk.co.uk" -- you can email us@ this site Walk-eat-photos Spain "http://www.fell-walker.co.uk" -- dontuse@ all, it's a spamtrap |
Saudi Arabia opens its doors to tourists
Following up to Dave Frightens Me
I do, but they would likely change their minds after a bit of learning... Thesinger liked it, can we call one of the great travellers wrong? -- Mike Reid Walk-eat-photos UK "http://www.fellwalk.co.uk" -- you can email us@ this site Walk-eat-photos Spain "http://www.fell-walker.co.uk" -- dontuse@ all, it's a spamtrap |
Saudi Arabia opens its doors to tourists
eetinBelgië schrieb:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/ma...ixtrvhome.html Saudi Arabia opens its doors to tourists By Teresa Machan (Filed: 13/05/2006) Saudi Arabia hopes to attract a million visitors a year with the help of a new tourism visa. Eighteen approved tour operators in the kingdom have begun offering visa services as part of a series of tourism initiatives announced last week at the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai. The Saudi government is also to begin issuing permits for tour guides from next month. Until now, Saudi Arabia has been a place where people go to work rather than play: the population of 24 million includes seven million foreign workers, 24,000 of them Britisf nationals. Alcohol is banned, as is photography of government buildings and palaces. Islamic principles and social customs are strictly observed and the country adheres to Sharia law, which allows corporal and capital punishment. In line with its Middle Eastern neighbours, the Saudi government has recognised the potential economic benefits of tourism as world oil reserves dwindle. Isn't it interesting that the countries with the largest oil reserves are the ones that are planning for a future without oil, while the rest of the world blunders onwards as if there were tomorrow. T. Raed Habiss, managing director of one of the tour operators, Destinations of the Kingdom, said Saudi Arabia was keen to attract British visitors and would offer attractive rates to travel agents. Among the first deals on offer was seven nights at a five-star hotel in Jeddah, including guided tours, from £750 (excluding flights). I've been told that the Red Sea near Jeddah has some of the world's finest scuba diving locations- up till now virtually inaccessible. "It is a country of cultural and geographical diversity," Mr Habiss said. "As well as coast, mountains and desert, we have spectacular heritage sites, unexplored dive sites and theme parks designed by Disney engineers." Wildlife includes the Arabian leopard and the oryx. Hoteliers are also showing confidence in Saudi Arabia. Hilton has chosen Jeddah for its first all-suite property, to open later this month, and the Swiss chain Mövenpick has signed contracts for three properties in the country, including a five-star hotel in Yanbu on the Red Sea coast. The luxury American chain Rosewood is to open a third hotel in Jeddah, which, in a first for the country, will have a dedicated female floor staffed entirely by women. Last month, Bmi began a three-times weekly service from Heathrow to Jeddah to complement a similar service to Riyadh, launched last year. A spokesman said there had been a steady increase in passengers using the Riyadh service and similar traffic was expected to Jeddah. A Saudi Arabian low-cost airline, Sama, is due to be launched this summer. Mr Habiss said that concerns over Saudi Arabia's less-than-favourable image overseas were unfounded. "Saudi Arabia is part of the modern world now. We cannot continue to be isolated. The Western perception is different from the reality. Saudis are known for their hospitality, and visitors who come will feel very differently." Male and female visitors will have to cover up. Foreign females must don the full-length abaya, and women under 40 must be accompanied by a male relative. A tourist visa can be issued as part of a package to groups of a minimum four people. No British tour operators have immediate plans to feature Saudi Arabia, but Kuoni, which offers trips to Oman, Jordan, Lebanon and the UAE, will wait to gauge demand. |
Saudi Arabia opens its doors to tourists
The Reid writes:
Following up to Dave Frightens Me I do, but they would likely change their minds after a bit of learning... Thesinger liked it, can we call one of the great travellers wrong? Can we call her opinions past their use-by date? Yes we can! Des |
Saudi Arabia opens its doors to tourists
Following up to Des Small
Thesinger liked it, can we call one of the great travellers wrong? Can we call her opinions past their use-by date? Yes we can! Her? But yes we probably can. -- Mike Reid Walk-eat-photos UK "http://www.fellwalk.co.uk" -- you can email us@ this site Walk-eat-photos Spain "http://www.fell-walker.co.uk" -- dontuse@ all, it's a spamtrap |
Saudi Arabia opens its doors to tourists
eetinBelgië wrote: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/ma...ixtrvhome.html Saudi Arabia opens its doors to tourists By Teresa Machan (Filed: 13/05/2006) Saudi Arabia hopes to attract a million visitors a year with the help of a new tourism visa. [snip] Mr Habiss said that concerns over Saudi Arabia's less-than-favourable image overseas were unfounded. "Saudi Arabia is part of the modern world now. We cannot continue to be isolated. The Western perception is different from the reality. Saudis are known for their hospitality, and visitors who come will feel very differently." Male and female visitors will have to cover up. Foreign females must don the full-length abaya, and women under 40 must be accompanied by a male relative. [snip] Does anyone see a huge contradiction between those two successive paragraphs, or is it just me? |
Saudi Arabia opens its doors to tourists
On Wed, 17 May 2006 07:03:23 -0500, "Pat in TX"
wrote: Saudi Arabia opens its doors to tourists By Teresa Machan (Filed: 13/05/2006) Saudi Arabia hopes to attract a million visitors a year with the help of a new tourism visa. Make that 999,999 Gerry Just male tourists? I can't think of a single female who would voluntarily go there.... I do, but they would likely change their minds after a bit of learning... -- --- DFM - http://www.deepfriedmars.com --- -- |
Saudi Arabia opens its doors to tourists
Tom Peel schrieb:
eetinBelgië schrieb: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/ma...ixtrvhome.html Saudi Arabia opens its doors to tourists By Teresa Machan (Filed: 13/05/2006) Saudi Arabia hopes to attract a million visitors a year with the help of a new tourism visa. Eighteen approved tour operators in the kingdom have begun offering visa services as part of a series of tourism initiatives announced last week at the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai. The Saudi government is also to begin issuing permits for tour guides from next month. Until now, Saudi Arabia has been a place where people go to work rather than play: the population of 24 million includes seven million foreign workers, 24,000 of them Britisf nationals. Alcohol is banned, as is photography of government buildings and palaces. Islamic principles and social customs are strictly observed and the country adheres to Sharia law, which allows corporal and capital punishment. In line with its Middle Eastern neighbours, the Saudi government has recognised the potential economic benefits of tourism as world oil reserves dwindle. Isn't it interesting that the countries with the largest oil reserves are the ones that are planning for a future without oil, while the rest of the world blunders onwards as if there were tomorrow. They need some oil fopr the air travel. However, it's not Europe. Regards & f'up2, ULF |
Saudi Arabia opens its doors to tourists
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Saudi Arabia opens its doors to tourists
Dave Frightens Me writes:
On Wed, 17 May 2006 15:21:22 +0100, The Reid wrote: its not just you. I suppose it doesn't really dawn on them how crap the restrictions on women seems to westerners. There probably aren't any women, gays or alcoholics in their focus groups :-) I read a story a few years back about a British guy that got 7 years in jail there for bringing in some chocolate liqueurs. And some of us were thinking Singapore was a **** location! Time Yoorp did an article on "How to survive Port Moresby": http://www.time.com/time/europe/tga/article/0,13005,901031208-552095,00.html, and the Economiste used to do regular Top 10 ******** features, but they're not mostly useful for calibrating holidays in sane places. Des |
Saudi Arabia opens its doors to tourists
Tom Peel wrote: Isn't it interesting that the countries with the largest oil reserves are the ones that are planning for a future without oil, while the rest of the world blunders onwards as if there were tomorrow. Well, Canada seems to be doing a good job. Can't say the same for Russia, Nigeria, etc. I can't imagine much interest in Saudi tourism -- unless one is interested in camel races, etc...in any case Dubai, etc. will offer pretty stiff competition for the traveller's pocketbook for the foreseeable future... -- Best Greg |
Saudi Arabia opens its doors to tourists
Pat in TX wrote: Saudi Arabia opens its doors to tourists By Teresa Machan (Filed: 13/05/2006) Saudi Arabia hopes to attract a million visitors a year with the help of a new tourism visa. Make that 999,999 Gerry Just male tourists? I can't think of a single female who would voluntarily go there.... Not only women, but also Jews and gays...the latter two groups have large amounts of disposable income, and women are often the deciding factor of where a family will holiday. -- Best Greg |
Saudi Arabia opens its doors to tourists
On Wed, 17 May 2006 15:21:22 +0100, The Reid
wrote: its not just you. I suppose it doesn't really dawn on them how crap the restrictions on women seems to westerners. There probably aren't any women, gays or alcoholics in their focus groups :-) I read a story a few years back about a British guy that got 7 years in jail there for bringing in some chocolate liqueurs. And some of us were thinking Singapore was a **** location! -- --- DFM - http://www.deepfriedmars.com --- -- |
eetinbelgie spammer
Cretinus debilitus
"eetinBelgië" a écrit dans le message de news: ... http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/ma...ixtrvhome.html Saudi Arabia opens its doors to tourists By Teresa Machan (Filed: 13/05/2006) Saudi Arabia hopes to attract a million visitors a year with the help of a new tourism visa. Eighteen approved tour operators in the kingdom have begun offering visa services as part of a series of tourism initiatives announced last week at the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai. The Saudi government is also to begin issuing permits for tour guides from next month. Until now, Saudi Arabia has been a place where people go to work rather than play: the population of 24 million includes seven million foreign workers, 24,000 of them Britisf nationals. Alcohol is banned, as is photography of government buildings and palaces. Islamic principles and social customs are strictly observed and the country adheres to Sharia law, which allows corporal and capital punishment. In line with its Middle Eastern neighbours, the Saudi government has recognised the potential economic benefits of tourism as world oil reserves dwindle. Raed Habiss, managing director of one of the tour operators, Destinations of the Kingdom, said Saudi Arabia was keen to attract British visitors and would offer attractive rates to travel agents. Among the first deals on offer was seven nights at a five-star hotel in Jeddah, including guided tours, from £750 (excluding flights). "It is a country of cultural and geographical diversity," Mr Habiss said. "As well as coast, mountains and desert, we have spectacular heritage sites, unexplored dive sites and theme parks designed by Disney engineers." Wildlife includes the Arabian leopard and the oryx. Hoteliers are also showing confidence in Saudi Arabia. Hilton has chosen Jeddah for its first all-suite property, to open later this month, and the Swiss chain Mövenpick has signed contracts for three properties in the country, including a five-star hotel in Yanbu on the Red Sea coast. The luxury American chain Rosewood is to open a third hotel in Jeddah, which, in a first for the country, will have a dedicated female floor staffed entirely by women. Last month, Bmi began a three-times weekly service from Heathrow to Jeddah to complement a similar service to Riyadh, launched last year. A spokesman said there had been a steady increase in passengers using the Riyadh service and similar traffic was expected to Jeddah. A Saudi Arabian low-cost airline, Sama, is due to be launched this summer. Mr Habiss said that concerns over Saudi Arabia's less-than-favourable image overseas were unfounded. "Saudi Arabia is part of the modern world now. We cannot continue to be isolated. The Western perception is different from the reality. Saudis are known for their hospitality, and visitors who come will feel very differently." Male and female visitors will have to cover up. Foreign females must don the full-length abaya, and women under 40 must be accompanied by a male relative. A tourist visa can be issued as part of a package to groups of a minimum four people. No British tour operators have immediate plans to feature Saudi Arabia, but Kuoni, which offers trips to Oman, Jordan, Lebanon and the UAE, will wait to gauge demand. |
Saudi Arabia opens its doors to tourists
On 17 May 2006 17:11:28 +0100, Des Small
wrote: Dave Frightens Me writes: On Wed, 17 May 2006 15:21:22 +0100, The Reid wrote: its not just you. I suppose it doesn't really dawn on them how crap the restrictions on women seems to westerners. There probably aren't any women, gays or alcoholics in their focus groups :-) I read a story a few years back about a British guy that got 7 years in jail there for bringing in some chocolate liqueurs. And some of us were thinking Singapore was a **** location! Time Yoorp did an article on "How to survive Port Moresby": http://www.time.com/time/europe/tga/article/0,13005,901031208-552095,00.html, and the Economiste used to do regular Top 10 ******** features, but they're not mostly useful for calibrating holidays in sane places. I spent almost a year in Pt Moresby when I was a kid, and absolutely hated the place. For some reason, my dad is still living there, and I have no idea why. Aside from what that article mentions, there's also corruption at every level, oppressive heat and humidity, and locals that spend their time finding ways to get your money. Maybe it's organised crime, but you're unlikely to notice the distinction. When I rode around on a bicycle, the other kids were trying to throw stuff in the spokes to stop me, but never managed to. We were fortunate enough to have a house with high walls endowed with broken glass, and a guard. Like Greg said, I'd rather be in Albania. -- --- DFM - http://www.deepfriedmars.com --- -- |
Saudi Arabia opens its doors to tourists
"Gregory Morrow" wrote in message oups.com... Pat in TX wrote: Saudi Arabia opens its doors to tourists By Teresa Machan (Filed: 13/05/2006) Saudi Arabia hopes to attract a million visitors a year with the help of a new tourism visa. Make that 999,999 Gerry Just male tourists? I can't think of a single female who would voluntarily go there.... Not only women, but also Jews and gays...the latter two groups have large amounts of disposable income, and women are often the deciding factor of where a family will holiday. Last time I checked, Saudi Arabia wouldn't issue visas to Jews, so there's no "voluntarily going" about it. -- Best Greg |
Saudi Arabia opens its doors to tourists
Saudia Arabia's problem (well ok, one of its *bigger* problems!) is
that the two cities that might be most interesting to tourists--Mecca and Medina--are and will presumably always be permanently closed to them. There might be a few natural sites that would be interesting, but Red Sea scuba diving and snorkeling are fairly easy off the coasts of Egypt and Aqaba in Jordan, so the attraction there seems pretty dim. About the only reason I could see someone going there would be to "collect" it. Lots of more interesting--and more welcoming/tolerant--countries to visit IMHO. Greg M. |
Saudi Arabia opens its doors to tourists
Following up to Gregory Morrow
and women are often the deciding factor of where a family will holiday. what sort of a father is on the pull while on a family holiday, disgusting. -- Mike Reid Walk-eat-photos UK "http://www.fellwalk.co.uk" -- you can email us@ this site Walk-eat-photos Spain "http://www.fell-walker.co.uk" -- dontuse@ all, it's a spamtrap |
Saudi Arabia opens its doors to tourists
Following up to PTravel
Saudi Arabia wouldn't issue visas to Jews, no Jews, women treated badly, non Muslims excluded from the two main sites and they think they are a modern country, talk about deluded. -- Mike Reid Walk-eat-photos UK "http://www.fellwalk.co.uk" -- you can email us@ this site Walk-eat-photos Spain "http://www.fell-walker.co.uk" -- dontuse@ all, it's a spamtrap |
Saudi Arabia opens its doors to tourists
Following up to Dave Frightens Me
And some of us were thinking Singapore was a **** location! Is it that bad? I've never considered going there, all I know is crap weather and strict rules. -- Mike Reid Walk-eat-photos UK "http://www.fellwalk.co.uk" -- you can email us@ this site Walk-eat-photos Spain "http://www.fell-walker.co.uk" -- dontuse@ all, it's a spamtrap |
Saudi Arabia opens its doors to tourists
Following up to Dave Frightens Me
I hate to say it, but after much consideration, my opinion of muslims is coming on par with yours. They truly are all ****ed in the head. Brainwashed by religious education. Don't know what it is about Islam that makes it more effective than other religions but they certainly make it stick. They also seem good at converting certain types of people in countries with proper education systems. -- Mike Reid Walk-eat-photos UK "http://www.fellwalk.co.uk" -- you can email us@ this site Walk-eat-photos Spain "http://www.fell-walker.co.uk" -- dontuse@ all, it's a spamtrap |
Saudi Arabia opens its doors to tourists
Following up to Dave Frightens Me
I spent almost a year in Pt Moresby there's little traffic at the moment, so for a top ten you might start with (no war zones please) Singapore Port Moresby Saudi Arabia NZ was top of my list of places I wanted to go but wont get round to, but talking to locals I'm not sure its not just too dull. now Chile is top of that list, followed by Baffin Island. -- Mike Reid Walk-eat-photos UK "http://www.fellwalk.co.uk" -- you can email us@ this site Walk-eat-photos Spain "http://www.fell-walker.co.uk" -- dontuse@ all, it's a spamtrap |
Saudi Arabia opens its doors to tourists
Dave Frightens Me writes:
I hate to say it, I can't say I enjoy hearing it much. but after much consideration, my opinion of muslims is coming on par with yours. They truly are all ****ed in the head. Even granting, which I wouldn't, the arab peninsula, every single Muslim in Bosnia, Turkey, Indonesia, past and present is or was ****ed in the head? I could stand to be reminded of your methodology at this point. Des |
Saudi Arabia opens its doors to tourists
The Reid wrote: Following up to PTravel Saudi Arabia wouldn't issue visas to Jews, no Jews, women treated badly, non Muslims excluded from the two main sites and they think they are a modern country, talk about deluded. Libya is a paradise compared to it... -- Best Greg |
Saudi Arabia opens its doors to tourists
Dave Frightens Me wrote: On 17 May 2006 09:27:00 -0700, "Gregory Morrow" wrote: Tom Peel wrote: Isn't it interesting that the countries with the largest oil reserves are the ones that are planning for a future without oil, while the rest of the world blunders onwards as if there were tomorrow. Well, Canada seems to be doing a good job. Can't say the same for Russia, Nigeria, etc. I can't imagine much interest in Saudi tourism -- unless one is interested in camel races, etc...in any case Dubai, etc. will offer pretty stiff competition for the traveller's pocketbook for the foreseeable future... Jihad tours? Yes, you could watch adulterers, gays, and Christians being stoned or beheaded...LOTS of THRILLS! Or you could visit Mecca during the Haj and watch the crowds stampede themselves to death! I hate to say it, but after much consideration, my opinion of muslims is coming on par with yours. They truly are all ****ed in the head. They all suffer from some kind of psychosis...and they are SO bloody single - minded. -- Best Greg |
Saudi Arabia opens its doors to tourists
Gregory Morrow wrote: The Reid wrote: Following up to PTravel Saudi Arabia wouldn't issue visas to Jews, no Jews, women treated badly, non Muslims excluded from the two main sites and they think they are a modern country, talk about deluded. Libya is a paradise compared to it... where would America be without Saudi Arabia ? |
Saudi Arabia opens its doors to tourists
eetinBelgië wrote: Gregory Morrow wrote: The Reid wrote: Following up to PTravel Saudi Arabia wouldn't issue visas to Jews, no Jews, women treated badly, non Muslims excluded from the two main sites and they think they are a modern country, talk about deluded. Libya is a paradise compared to it... where would America be without Saudi Arabia ? I much prefer Canada :-) : from the May 12, 2006 edition - http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0512/p04s01-woam.html Newest hot spot for oil production: Canada Last month, a Texas-Illinois pipeline built to bring oil north reversed direction to take Alberta oil south. By Fred Langan | Correspondent of The Christian Science Monitor "FORT MCMURRAY, ALBERTA - More expensive to process than the light crude oil of the Middle East, Alberta's oil sands have long remained a largely untapped resource. But with oil at $70 a barrel, it has become economically feasible to extract the thick, sticky bitumen that in former years was used to seal native people's canoes - not fuel a global economy. Only Saudi Arabia, with 259 billion barrels, has larger oil reserves than the Florida-sized patch that surrounds this Canadian outpost. And a pipeline already exists to carry the oil to a key market: the United States. Over the next five years, oil companies from Exxon Mobil to France's Total are expected to invest C$60 billion in oil sands. Earlier this week, Shell Canada announced a takeover of Canadian oil-sands producer BlackRock Ventures, valued at $2.4 billion Canadian ($2.17 billion). Production in Alberta is up 61 percent over the past four years. This year, Alberta's oil sands are expected to produce 1.2 million barrels a day, roughly equal to the production of Texas. "The oil sands ... represent a turning point in the history of energy, and a switch to synthetic [chemically processed] sources of oil," says Peter Tertzakian, chief energy economist at the Calgary-based energy consultancy ARC Financial. Industry experts say new technology could greatly increase output, providing a significant source of secure oil for the United States. Just last month, a pipeline built to carry oil north from the Gulf of Mexico to Midwest refineries, reversed direction to take Alberta oil south. "We can double our production and go for another 45 years," says Jim Carter, president of Syncrude Canada Ltd., the world's largest oil sands operator. "There is relatively new technology that could expand production, but there is still a lot to be mined by surface methods." From natural resource to final product Huge swaths of the boreal forest cover Alberta's deposits, concentrated in three locations: Peace River to the west of Fort McMurray; Cold Lake to the southeast, on the Saskatchewan border; and - by far the largest - the Athabasca region surrounding Fort McMurray, the town at the center of oil sands production. Syncrude - a joint venture of seven firms - estimates that those deposits contain 175 billion recoverable barrels of oil. Optimists such as the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board say the reserves could be 10 times that if new technology succeeds in separating the oil from the sand in hard-to-reach underground deposits. Syncrude and other companies, from Shell to Suncor, are stripping away the top layer of the earth to get at the bitumen that contains oil. They use giant shovels that scoop up 80 to 90 tons at a time, dropping the earth into the giant yellow Caterpillar 797B, the largest truck in the world. It is as tall as a two-story house and its tires cost $60,000 each. It never leaves the property; its weight would wreck the local roads. Each 400-ton load will produce 200 barrels of oil once it's been put through the crusher. Other sites in Alberta use more complex methods of getting at the bitumen that is too deep to mine. High-temperature steam is pumped down into the oil sands deposits to liquefy the bitumen, which is then pumped to the surface. However it's extracted, all bitumen has to be transformed into oil in a process called upgrading. There are several different steps in upgrading, all of them using a lot of energy, usually natural gas. Itcosts $23 to $26 a barrel - depending on the project - to produce light oil from sticky goo of the oil sands. With oil at current prices, the shares of firms such as Canadian Natural Resources and Suncor have been soaring on the Toronto Stock Exchange. Some investment analysts warn there could be problems for the oil-sands operators, since their costs - natural gas to "cook" the bitumen during the refining process and diesel fuel to run their equipment - are rising. Environmental concerns Environmentalists, meanwhile, are concerned about the effects of oil-sands production, though oil sands firms say they will return it to pristine condition in the long run. "With projections that oil-sands production will grow from 1 million to more than 5 million barrels per day over the next 25 years, the air, land, and water of Alberta's northeastern boreal forest is at risk of severe environmental degradation," said the Pembina Institute, an Alberta-based environmental organization, in a statement on its website. The giant smokestacks at the refineries send black smoke into the air that stretches for miles in the clear blue sky above the forest. "The proposed tar-sands developments will tear a hole in Canada's lungs - our vital boreal forest ecosystem," said Lindsay Telfer of Canada's Sierra Club. And a native group that lives just north of the project has said it isn't safe to fish in the Athabasca River, due to pollution from not just the oil sands but also paper mills. No gold-rush exodus ... yet But the oil-sands operators and local government leaders are focused on another problem: labor shortages. "Our biggest problem is finding housing for the people who are coming here," says Melissa Blake, mayor of Fort McMurray. On average, 100 people a week arrive in this town of 61,000 looking for work. There is also a transient population of as many as 12,000 that commutes to work from other parts of Canada, staying in rented space for weeks on end. Workers are so hard to come by that unskilled people in fast-food restaurants are paid C$14 ($12.70) an hour, double the minimum wage. The Fort McKay Group, run by a Indian tribe, pays trained cooks in its catering service as much as C$40 ($36.30) an hour. The average cost of a small house - 1,200 square feet - in Fort McMurray is C$418,000 ($380,000), more expensive than most big cities. Rents for small apartments can be C$1,000 ($900) a month. "The price of oil drives growth in Fort McMurray. And at these prices we expect our [permanent] population to grow to 100,000 by 2012," says Mayor Blake." / |
Planning for a future without oil (was: Saudi Arabia opens its doorsto tourists)
Gregory Morrow schrieb:
Isn't it interesting that the countries with the largest oil reserves are the ones that are planning for a future without oil, while the rest of the world blunders onwards as if there were tomorrow. Well, Canada seems to be doing a good job. Can't say the same for Russia, Nigeria, etc. Norway seems to be quite okay in this point. Regards, ULF |
Saudi Arabia opens its doors to tourists
eetinBelgië wrote: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/ma...ixtrvhome.html Saudi Arabia opens its doors to tourists By Teresa Machan (Filed: 13/05/2006) Saudi Arabia hopes to attract a million visitors a year with the help of a new tourism visa. Eighteen approved tour operators in the kingdom have begun offering visa services as part of a series of tourism initiatives announced last week at the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai. The Saudi government is also to begin issuing permits for tour guides from next month. Until now, Saudi Arabia has been a place where people go to work rather than play: the population of 24 million includes seven million foreign workers, 24,000 of them Britisf nationals. Alcohol is banned, as is photography of government buildings and palaces. Islamic principles and social customs are strictly observed and the country adheres to Sharia law, which allows corporal and capital punishment. In line with its Middle Eastern neighbours, the Saudi government has recognised the potential economic benefits of tourism as world oil reserves dwindle. Raed Habiss, managing director of one of the tour operators, Destinations of the Kingdom, said Saudi Arabia was keen to attract British visitors and would offer attractive rates to travel agents. Among the first deals on offer was seven nights at a five-star hotel in Jeddah, including guided tours, from £750 (excluding flights). "It is a country of cultural and geographical diversity," Mr Habiss said. "As well as coast, mountains and desert, we have spectacular heritage sites, unexplored dive sites and theme parks designed by Disney engineers." Wildlife includes the Arabian leopard and the oryx. Hoteliers are also showing confidence in Saudi Arabia. Hilton has chosen Jeddah for its first all-suite property, to open later this month, and the Swiss chain Mövenpick has signed contracts for three properties in the country, including a five-star hotel in Yanbu on the Red Sea coast. The luxury American chain Rosewood is to open a third hotel in Jeddah, which, in a first for the country, will have a dedicated female floor staffed entirely by women. Last month, Bmi began a three-times weekly service from Heathrow to Jeddah to complement a similar service to Riyadh, launched last year. A spokesman said there had been a steady increase in passengers using the Riyadh service and similar traffic was expected to Jeddah. A Saudi Arabian low-cost airline, Sama, is due to be launched this summer. Mr Habiss said that concerns over Saudi Arabia's less-than-favourable image overseas were unfounded. "Saudi Arabia is part of the modern world now. We cannot continue to be isolated. The Western perception is different from the reality. Saudis are known for their hospitality, and visitors who come will feel very differently." Male and female visitors will have to cover up. Foreign females must don the full-length abaya, and women under 40 must be accompanied by a male relative. A tourist visa can be issued as part of a package to groups of a minimum four people. No British tour operators have immediate plans to feature Saudi Arabia, but Kuoni, which offers trips to Oman, Jordan, Lebanon and the UAE, will wait to gauge demand. Saudi Arabia! What a fun place to visit. Lets go to the market place, I hear there's a beheading of an adulterer scheduled for 10 AM, followed by the whipping of a woman who carelessly exposed her wrist. Then we have the stoning of a Christian (best hide the rosary beads dear), then a chap accused of stealing a tomato is scheduled to lose his right hand. |
Planning for a future without oil (was: Saudi Arabia opens its doors to tourists)
Ulf Kutzner wrote: Gregory Morrow schrieb: Isn't it interesting that the countries with the largest oil reserves are the ones that are planning for a future without oil, while the rest of the world blunders onwards as if there were tomorrow. Well, Canada seems to be doing a good job. Can't say the same for Russia, Nigeria, etc. Norway seems to be quite okay in this point. Yes, Norway is so lucky they didn't even have to bother joining that pesky EU...that way their petro riches don't have to go to subsidise Greek road projects and Polish farmers and such :-) -- Best Greg |
Saudi Arabia opens its doors to tourists
Gregory Morrow wrote: eetinBelgië wrote: Gregory Morrow wrote: The Reid wrote: Following up to PTravel Saudi Arabia wouldn't issue visas to Jews, no Jews, women treated badly, non Muslims excluded from the two main sites and they think they are a modern country, talk about deluded. Libya is a paradise compared to it... where would America be without Saudi Arabia ? I much prefer Canada :-) : cheaper to invade :) |
Saudi Arabia opens its doors to tourists
Tom Peel wrote:
eetinBelgië schrieb: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/ma...006/05/13/etne wssaudi.xml&sSheet=/travel/2006/05/17/ixtrvhome.html Saudi Arabia opens its doors to tourists By Teresa Machan (Filed: 13/05/2006) [] Isn't it interesting that the countries with the largest oil reserves are the ones that are planning for a future without oil, while the rest of the world blunders onwards as if there were tomorrow. Saudi tourism as 'planning for the future'- this in a country which still can't decide whether or not to allow women to sell women's underwear to other women? Yeah, right. -- David Horne- http://www.davidhorne.net usenet (at) davidhorne (dot) co (dot) uk http://homepage.mac.com/davidhornecomposer http://soundjunction.org |
Saudi Arabia opens its doors to tourists
Dave Frightens Me writes:
On 18 May 2006 10:13:01 +0100, Des Small wrote: Dave Frightens Me writes: but after much consideration, my opinion of muslims is coming on par with yours. They truly are all ****ed in the head. Even granting, which I wouldn't, the arab peninsula, every single Muslim in Bosnia, Turkey, Indonesia, past and present is or was ****ed in the head? I could stand to be reminded of your methodology at this point. Methodology? I'm just nuturing a prejudice. Don't pretend you don't have 'em too! Prejudices are like rude bits; everyone has them, but it isn't considered polite to wave them around in public. Des |
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