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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. |
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![]() "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 |
#3
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![]() 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 |
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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 --- -- |
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![]() 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.... |
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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 |
#7
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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 |
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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 |
#9
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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. |
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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 |
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