Tourism in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia lifts the veil -- Conservative kingdom opening door to foreign tourists, BOTTOM LINE: VISAS: Saudi Arabia is by no means opening up to individual tourists. In fact, tourist visas are still non-existent. But small "educational groups" from universities, alumni organizations and museums are getting special travel permits through Saudi Arabian Airlines, the national carrier. www.canoe.ca/TravelWorld/saudi_9905.html
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A new tourist attraction, Al Nawaras Island on the Corneish, rooms are rented out like a hotel. This was built on filled in land!
www.hotels-europe.com
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During each of the school breaks and summer vacation, Jeddah fills to capacity with visitors from within Saudi and from the neighboring Arab countries. It's easy to spot the visitor to Jeddah either they drive 'differently' or the women are wearing very traditional abaya's. We normally go out at 5 PM and don't get too much of the evening traffic but once the sunset prayers are over, the streets fill with cars and every walking space available (including all the malls and shopping areas) are filled to overflowing. Most of this traffic is simply the people out 'for a drive' as they call it, actually it means getting out to anywhere, driving and walking.
With the promotion of tourism in Jeddah the visitors increase during each break.
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One of the most wanted places to visit is Madain Saleh with it's majestic homes carved into the rock mountains.
See the page Tabouk for more information and pictures.
http://www.adumatu.com/madan.htm
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Prince Sultan Bin Salman has what might seem an impossible job: getting tourists to visit a place where the temperature hits 115 degrees, you can't buy a beer and the two most famous cities are barred to non-Muslims.www.sptimes.com/2002/webspecials02/saudiarabia/day1/story2.shtml
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The Kingdom is committed to developing tourism as part of its overall economic diversification strategy. The Tourism Higher Authority has been given the task of overseeing a massive expansion in the Kingdom’s tourist facilities and services.Amongst the various tourist expansion projects is “Al-Hada Resort, Cable Car and Al-Kar Tourist Village” project in Taif Governorate, the first phase of which was launched in 2001. The SR 70 million- project, in its first phase, includes the 4,200 meters-long cable car route that connects the high altitude area of Al-Hada with the low altitude area of Al-Kar village. It includes hotels, restaurants, family parks and playgrounds.Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdul Aziz predicted that there would be 45.3 million tourists in the year 2020, and a tourist expenditure of 80 billion riyals.www.saudinf.com/main/e9.htm
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Carol and Ray Whitney visited Saudi Arabia in October 2000 as part of a two-week study tour sponsored by the Smithsonian Institution.
www.saudiembassy.net/publications/Magazine-Winter-01/wonders.htm




Welcome to the website of Tourism in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabiawww.sauditourism.gov.sa/sct/indexb.php
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These are areas which have sea fronts such as Jeddah in the Western Region and Dammam in the East. Areas of natural beauty: such as Taif, Al Baha and Abha. Historical sites: such as Mada'in Salih in Diriyah which are renown for thier antiquity. www.the-saudi.net/saudi-arabia/tourism.htm
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Ancient Rock Art can be found in many locations throughout Saudi Arabia.Early written historyAncient Rock Art in Saudi Arabia is a rich source of information about the lives of the people who inhabited the peninsula in the Neolithic period and later. http://www.toursaudiarabia.com/graffiti.html
Another picture and link here.
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Leisure & Tourism Market in Saudi ArabiaVery few recreational projects were available in the past,and Saudis have always had to go abroad to satisfy their demands for entertainment. This cost the economy some U$8 billion every year (according to a recent estimate). In order to retain part of this huge amount of hard currency spent outside,the government started encouraging local investment in recreational projects.
Also, Saudi Arabia has had a history of discouraging foreign tourists from visiting the country, but this policy is now changing. Visa regulations are being relaxed to encourage tourists to visit the Kingdom's cultural, historic and archaelogical sites.
www.uktradeinvest.gov.uk/recreation/saudi_arabia/profile/overview.shtml
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Saudis drive considerably faster and more unpredictably than American drivers. One must learn to drive by " instinct" and make much more effort to judge the intentions of other drivers and pedestrians. The surface of any vehicle will sustain considerable wear because of the environment--scorching sun, blowing sand, high humidity along the coasts, and debris from construction and uncovered trucks on the highway. http://wrc.lingnet.org/sauditip.htm
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