ZCZC
BFF-19
SAUDI-ECONOMY-TOURISM
Saudi Arabia welcomes 24,000 tourists in 10 days
RIYADH, Oct 8, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Saudi Arabia welcomed 24,000 tourists in
the 10 days after it issued tourism visas for the first time, state
television reported Tuesday.
Saudi Arabia announced on September 27 it would start offering tourist
visas, opening up the kingdom to holidaymakers as part of a push to diversify
its economy away from oil.
“In 10 days, some 24,000 foreigners entered Saudi Arabia on a tourist
visa,” the television reported, citing the Saudi foreign ministry.
Up until September 27, the ultra-conservative Islamic state only issued
visas to Muslim pilgrims, foreign workers and recently to spectators at
sporting or cultural events.
To encourage arrivals, authorities announced Sunday they would allow
unmarried foreign couples to rent hotel rooms together.
Kickstarting tourism is one of the centrepieces of Crown Prince Mohammed
bin Salman’s Vision 2030 reform programme to prepare the Arab world’s largest
economy for a post-oil era.
Citizens from 49 countries are now eligible for online e-visas or visas on
arrival, including the United States, Australia, several European nations,
Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, China and Kazakhstan.
BSS/AFP/RY/1810 hrs