Saudi Arabia announces new tourist visa scheme

Saudi Arabia has anunced a new tourist visa scheme, as part of efforts to open up ultraconservative Muslim kingdom to foreign visitors and diversify its oil-reliant ecomy. kingdom says allowing more foreign visitors is “a key milestone.” It is seeking to increase international and domestic visits to 100 million a year by 2030, by which time it aims to have tourism contributing up to 10% of gross domestic product compared to current 3%. one-year, multiple-entry visa scheme unveiled late Friday allows for stays of up to 90 days at a time and marks first time country is allowing foreigners to visit solely for purpose of tourism. Until w visitor visas were issued for specific reasons such as for Muslim religious pilgrims, to visit family or for business.

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visa information website indicated an easing of strict dress codes for visiting women

visa information website indicated an easing of strict dress codes for visiting women, requiring shoulders and knees to be covered but t demanding y wear full-body abaya.“From this historic place and during this special day — Tourism Day — we are pleased to anunce that we will receive tourists from several places of world. We are a people of hospitality,” said Ahmed Al-Khateeb, chairman of Saudi Commission for Tourism and Herit, speaking from in -Diriyah, which houses a UNESCO World Herit site. Saudi Arabia saw profound change last year as part of reforms by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, including opening first movie atre and lifting world’s only ban on women driving.

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Visitors from 49 eligible countries will be able to apply for tourist visas online 

But re is a hard limit to reforms, as revealed by last year’s killing of Saudi writer Jamal Khashoggi in Turkey by Saudi nts and reported torture of several detained women’s rights activists. For launch of its new visa, country was highlighting five UNESCO World Herit sites, contemporary art sites and natural beauties including Red Sea, desert and mountains. Visitors from 49 eligible countries will be able to apply for tourist visas online or on arrival at airport visa kiosks, while those from or countries will have to apply via Saudi consulates or embassies before travel.

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