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Saudi Arabia opens its doors to tourists



 
 
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  #1  
Old May 17th, 2006, 08:17 AM posted to rec.travel.europe
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Default 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.

  #2  
Old May 17th, 2006, 08:45 AM posted to rec.travel.europe
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Default 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


  #3  
Old May 17th, 2006, 01:03 PM posted to rec.travel.europe
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Default 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....






  #4  
Old May 17th, 2006, 02:51 PM posted to rec.travel.europe
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Default 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
---
--
  #5  
Old May 17th, 2006, 01:52 PM posted to rec.travel.europe
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Default 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
  #6  
Old May 17th, 2006, 02:00 PM posted to rec.travel.europe
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Default 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
  #7  
Old May 17th, 2006, 01:41 PM posted to rec.travel.europe
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Default 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
  #8  
Old May 17th, 2006, 05:30 PM posted to rec.travel.europe
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Default 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

  #9  
Old May 17th, 2006, 11:50 PM posted to rec.travel.europe
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Default 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



  #10  
Old May 18th, 2006, 07:05 AM posted to rec.travel.europe
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Default 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.

 




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