Do you believe saudi arabia can have tourism?

Question

Saudi is like a closed shell in terms of tourism. to all saudis and those living in saudi, would you be interested in doing some crazy touristic stuff in saudi arabia or are you simply convinced its not a leisure country

Answer 1

My friend in Agadir (Morocco) makes a lot of money with tourism to Saudi Arabia, because he organize the Mecca pilgrim tours for Moroccan people who want to go there... and he says that this is the most busy period in the year for him when his agency earns real big money...

I don´t know, I am a tourism expert and I work in Spain, we do incoming and I must say that I personally was very disappointed with many visitors we have had here from Saudi Arabia, because of their ever demanding and unreasonable behavior.

Ho says that Saudis prefer "decent" places to go on holidays? Come on, I have seen things going on in Marbella that made me see the light... having money does not mean that somebody knows how to behave and treat others... I agree, they pay very well for all services, but I did not like the treatment we as agents received in many cases.

Don´t get me wrong, I go along well with everybody and I respect everybody’s religion and way of life, but I don´t respect these people who go to a foreign country and think that things have to be the way they want due to their culture and macho point of view. Things like that never happened with people from Morocco, Syria, Egypt, Jordan, Israel... only with the Saudis.  

No, honestly, people who are so narrow minded should stay where they are and I doubt that they are able to handle international tourism, as due to their point of view WE would have adapt to them and they would not welcome us the way we are. (Things, which are done in any country that handles with international tourism).

I can´t respect these guys who think that they come to Spain and any other country and act like if they were kings here as well and treat us like rubbish. Ask my friend in Morocco, he denies receiving tourists from Saudi Arabia by his agency because all the money he gets from them does not justify the humiliating way they treat him.

Look, these guys have humiliated me and they did not even respect me although they knew that I was the director of the company… they even tried to pay me money for s*x. Is this the decent way of Saudis going on holidays? Drinking from morning till night, bothering everybody around them, taking drugs and order prostitutes???

Come on, I am fed up with your double moral and cynical stupidities some people write here… Dignity starts with respecting others… maybe that´s why Saudi Arabia will never be a tourist destination… because of the lack of respect towards others… not to mention that they don´t even respect 50% of their own people, which are female…

Answer 2

if they soften their laws to include what tourist people want..i don't see why not

Answer 3

NO DOUBT ABOUT IT. just not the kind of tourism you're thinking of.

there are many people around the world that do not like or seek "leisure" type of tourism, some like their destinations rough, raw and unprepared for "visitors"....and i think saudi arabia has that already (well for a little while more..but not for long)...from an crowded sights to virgin diving spots you wont have to fight yourway to be put on it's waiting lists.

personally, even though i am saudi and lived here all my life, i just started touring my country...we started by touring our own city..visiting museums and galleries and old historical districts and souqs...then we advanced to taking weekend trips to near by villages and cities by car...now we take week long excursions and camp in open air all over saudi arabia...and we prepare for it on our own, we research books and maps and plan everything...even take medical supplies, food and water with us just incase we get lost or stuck in the middle of nowhere...in recent years the saudi government (unlike what some people think or say) are doing a lot to improve this sector and introduce services and facilities and constantly work on improving them to reach a decent level of quality....they're trying to create events and festivals throughout the year, they're protecting traditional crafts and apparel and constantly putting them on display in the spotlight in major events and even abroad through the embassies and student bodies, they're starting to improve hospitality and tourism education and training, investments in hotels, museums and entertainment in general is very much encouraged, international groups of tourists were invited and their trips were sponsored and planned (many from the far orient and even educational groups from western universities), tourists visas are planned and now being issued

and much more....of course you have to remember that we're still trying to fix and improve our infrastructures to serve us the citizens...the population is exploding and there isn't enough schools, universities, hospitals...etc and in some parts (especially jeddah which is a very popular tourist area) we have water and sewage issue to date. so it wouldn't be smart to introduce tourism heavily to the country when we still can't accommodate and serve our own.....

besides, we have mecca and medinah...the two holy cities of islam already attracting millions of muslims every year...but we wouldn't want to open those two cities for "non religious" tourism simply because it's disrespectful to us muslims visiting these cities to perform our religious pilgrimage and connect at a deeper level spiritually with our creator in the most sacred of places...people save up and wait their entire lives to come from every corner of the earth...it would be offensive if a bunch of tourists who do not understand or relate to what we're doing there to stare at us and point their lenses at us with camcorders...

saudi arabia is a country based and ruled by a single religion that a lot of people consider very "closed", "rigid",

"conservative" and "private"....that's true, we do cherish our privacy and we're conservative in comparison with say Malibu, Amsterdam or Rio...but why is that consider an "anti tourism" aspect?? aren't there people who would like to come visit a new part of the world rich in culture, traditions, history and values without seeing naked flesh parading on beaches or drunken fools pouring out of filthy bars? wouldn't they enjoy themselves without gambling their hard earned money away at some casino or engaging in sexually explicit illogical and completely degrading to the human nature activities at some sleazy rave, party or nightclub?

of course there are....millions of decent individuals and families that would like an enriching "clean" vacation that they'll enjoy together as a family and learn about a country and its people they never knew where to locate them on a map and all they knew about them was a mock tacky over exaggerated almost vegas like image of some erotic arabian nights in the midst of deserts and camels....

we may close up in our own shells to strangers...but when if they come right to our doors and genuinely want to get to know us better, leaving all misconceptions and judgments behind...we'll greet them with our famous generosity and hospitality that we take great pride in and they'll get to see the soft tender part we protect so fiercely...

Answer 4

yes.. I agree with what Just me says

also... when you have a country that is built off of religious morals and you have to be the guardian keeper of the headquarters of that religion.. you dont want tourists of another faith coming in to desecrate it..

Making hajj in Mecca is serious enough for the believers, there are millions who come.. We certainly dont want bystanders oogling or watching taking photos of us while we are trying to do our duty to God.. Also you cant keep control of every single human, and when there are millions and throw in a few hundred tourists, theres bound to be one rogue in them who will stir up problems... If we allow tourism. I highly doubt they will allow "free" roaming tourism.. It will be in groups and have a tour guide and some security following them to make sure someone doesnt wander off on their own to wreck havoc around...

there are beautiful sites to see around Saudi.. there are the cliff houses carved into the rocky mountains up near Jordon, there are old castles, forts. there are the natural oasis, there are the mountain farms (which are lush with green and water), the southern mountains are amazing with crystal springs, and the wild monkeys are interesting that live there.. There are many places to see..

Answer 5

how cana country have tourism when it does not have some thing called a TOURIST  VISA even.

Answer 6

There really isnt much to see except Makkah and Madinah, but only Muslims can go there.

Answer 7

yeah, possible.

Answer 8

I don’t believe Saudi Arabia has a strong scene for tourism because it’s a highly prosperous country, that doesn’t see the need to allow non-Muslim foreigners in. Though they still allow organised tour groups to operate tours, but they’re ridiculously expensive and short, plus it takes a long time to finalise all of the visas.

One day I hope to go there, Meda’in Saleh looks amazing.

Answer 9

For Muslims, maybe, but, just from oil revenue.........

1)  The Al-Saud, the family, taken together, has so much money all the trees in the world cut down to make paper, would not make enough bank notes to represent it all.  They have so much money some of it can not exist as paper.

2)  Even with all the money they steal, Saudi Citizens (citizens, mind, not residents, or foreign workers) have a higher living standard than the Swiss.

3)  Just from oil, many Saudis have taken advantage of oil revenue to get big degrees from countless "prestigious" schools across the globe, with the Ivies generally being favorites because of the names and all that.  However, they do not restrict themselves only to American Ivies; they have studied as far away as Beijing, and even the University of Mumbai, the toughest University in the world.

So, from oil, and the business sector, combined with investments made by Saudis educated in business from the best schools.....

taken together....

That comes out to roughly, oh, 2.3 trillion dollars.  You factor interest, revenue gained, their tendency to pull out when markets collapse, the ties of oil to every single world market, their connections to banks the world over that comes out to about 2.3 trillion.

Its probably more you know.

In other words...... Saudi Arabia needs neither its oil, nor tourism, as they have generated so much money, they can live of it for the next 500 years.  Turns your stomach to think how little they share with the Palestinians doesn't it?

Makes you wonder why there aren't any suicide bombers that go there although I suppose that is what the U.S. army stationed there is for.

Saudi Arabia with tourists.... they neither need, nor want them.  I'll guarantee that.

Answer 10

If when you think "leisure" and an image of a boat with a girl in a bikini on it equates to tourism, then maybe the answer would be no.

Otherwise, sure there can be if our beurocracy is dealt with.

Maybe not the typical image of tourism, but it can be related to Hajj, Umrah, like a trip to Farasan Islands in Saudi, then the mountains of Aseer, etc after Umrah.

Shopping malls that are "family oriented"

Look at how it is in Malaysia and how many conservative Saudis like to go there because its nice AND at the same time conservative.

Some think that because Saudi is conservative tourism is impossible. Its not. And actually Saudi being conservative can be its strength if used in a smart way.

I as a Saudi, what drives me nuts here, is government paperwork of ANY kind. I believe we cant get far with tourism or anything if we dont solve the problems that come with beurocracy.

That said.... other than Hajj and Umrah, officials dont "really" care about tourism. The focus seems to be on finding a third pillar for the economy, being mining and gold, along with oil and petrochemicals. To me those pillars shouldnt be the only ones but thats another subject :)

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Edit :

Anita : The type that goes to Marbella are known, in Saudi, to be the spoiled brat type. And you fell into generalizing against Saudis knowing only the type you see in a certain place. If I ever go to Spain I wouldnt want to go to your agency because obviously you, although a "tourism expert" wouldnt be able to distinguish between people like myself, and them, and would group us alltogether and treat us with the same prejudices.

Answer 11

.......Saudi Arabia is not a leisure country but a country where there's much of work opportunities. This country is for muslims only where the holy city is been visited by muslims around the world. The reason for non-muslims that are existent here are not for leisure and any kind of tourism but they're here for work, for having jobs to sustain the families in their home country.....

Answer 12

Saudi can be one of the greatest touristic destinations in the world

Answer 13

I believe that Saudi Arabia can have tourism of all religions.

If people are strictly interested in visiting the Holy sites of Mecca and Medina ( which will be limited to Muslims) they can choose to do just that, while others can focus on different aspects of the country.

Saudi Arabia can also offer family leisure, adventure, even 'discovery and educational tourism' such as people interested predominently in different animal species or land formations.

Saudi Arabia is very picturesque, with beutiful landscapes and friendly people. It is traditional and modern at the same time and also is builiding better transport and facilities continuously.

I do not believe that if people of other religions go to Saudi Arabia they will be 'oogling'  at the masjeds! For goodness sakes....Do muslims and christians when in malaysia 'oogle' the buddist shrines? No way, most of the are very respectful and apart from wanting to know about the other religions, go about their daily schedules and activities........

I also feel that statements such as people of other religions 'desecrating' Saudi Arabia is absurd! Such people would have to be of the worst kind. Nowadays people of all religions live here in the KSA in harmony and we never faced such problems. I do not see why if tourists come that would happen.

Saudi Arabia was for SOMETIME a closed country, but now it is opening to the world and that will graduate continue to do so.

If a country of person wants success they need to open up their arms and embrace, rather close on themselves and ultimately shrink......

A final note is the following: Saudi Arabia had for centruries been an OPEN country! Most of the trade caravans used to roam this vast land making it the CROSSROADS of different civilisations.... from Yemen and Africa to the Mediterranean see and areas such a modern Iraq.....That reflects in the many traditions of the Saudi people....This area had from those times the international flair that nowadays petrol brought back and which actually never seized in areas such as Mecca and Medina.....This should not be so easily forgotten......as it goes totally against the nature of its own people.