khwaimaisabai Posted May 15, 2006 Report Share Posted May 15, 2006 New Saudi push to woo tourists Published: 7th May 2006 DUBAI: For the first time, Saudi Arabia is looking to encourage non-Muslim tourists. "We promise you an experience that will hit your soul, mind and spirit ... (with) lots of nightlife," Prince Sultan bin Salman, who heads the kingdom's Supreme Commission for Tourism, said in Dubai at the opening of a tourism promotion expo. "We have nothing to hide, we will open up so the world can see," he said, emphasising that the term 'nightlife' for Saudis tends to mean wholesome family activities. Saudis are known for their love of night-time picnics during which they smoke water-pipes and consume large quantities of bitter coffee and tea. Prince Sultan promised visas in 24 hours and even upon arrival for some nationals. The kingdom, which joined the World Trade Organisation in December and has a significant youthful population eager to embrace globalisation, wants to open up to tourists, especially non-Muslims, while at the same time retaining its Islamic values and traditions. Prince Sultan said the kingdom wants to attract 1.5 million tourists a year by 2020, excluding the millions of Muslims that flock to the kingdom for the Haj. He spoke of the ambitious goal of making tourism account for 18 per cent of the gross domestic product by 2020. Saudi Arabia previously announced plans to spend billions on beefing up its tourism infrastructure and to break up the monopoly held by the state-owned carrier Saudi Arabian Airlines on domestic travel. http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/Story.asp?Article=142919&Sn=WORL&IssueID=29048 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted May 16, 2006 Report Share Posted May 16, 2006 Great site for the next Full Moon Party!!! :: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kamui Posted May 16, 2006 Report Share Posted May 16, 2006 khwaimaisabai said: "We promise you an experience that will hit your soul, mind and spirit ... (with) lots of nightlife," "emphasising that the term 'nightlife' for Saudis tends to mean wholesome family activities. I don't think that they will be overrun by tourists in the near future. :: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlton68 Posted May 16, 2006 Report Share Posted May 16, 2006 I envision hordes of female tourists roaming Riad and Mekka. Dressed in short skirts, or hot pants, revealing tops, no scarfs. Saudi men will develop a disease called 'white fever'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nuts Posted May 16, 2006 Report Share Posted May 16, 2006 Saudi Men already have the yellow fever!!! They just can't have it in their country, so they travel to Bahrain or Dubai on the weekends and have access to all the Thai and Filipina girls they could want. I can't see Saudi Arabia as being a new hot spot for tourism. For the six months I spent in Bahrain, all the Saudi's I ran into were Arrogant pricks who thought they ruled the world. But maybe they do, they have all the oil and money they need. And the protection from all foreign enemies provided by big brother Uncle Sam. Who Knows Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZMAN Z28 Posted May 16, 2006 Report Share Posted May 16, 2006 And the beer should be very cold also Z Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zorro Posted May 16, 2006 Report Share Posted May 16, 2006 This story has been recirculated a few times over the last three of four years. It always provides a chuckle for all the Saudi expats. I fearlesslly predict nothing much to come of this latest tourism push in KSA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 16, 2006 Report Share Posted May 16, 2006 Last place on earth I would go.. Basically all the things I like to do on holiday will get me flogged/beheaded. In fact, even being an Atheist will drop me in the shit there. Think I'll give it a miss. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluehenry Posted July 15, 2006 Report Share Posted July 15, 2006 this cracks me up. right now i'm living in riyadh...& checking out a message board for information on bangkok nightlife! no-one's goint to want to come here - & those of us here already spend most of our free time trying to find ways to get out! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitney Posted July 17, 2006 Report Share Posted July 17, 2006 So maybe some government official or officials figured out that their own country might benefit from tourism? One day their oil will run out I don't think there's much of a buyers market for rocks and sand Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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