Saudi Arabia » Tourism

People travelling to Mecca

Little effort has been made to attract non-Arab tourists. The annual pilgrimage to Makkah (haj) brings some two million Muslim visitors each year to the holy cities, Makkah and Medina. Other principal destinations are the capital, Riyadh, and the commercial centre, Jeddah. The government has established a commission for tourism to manage development of the tourist industry. Tourist facilities are developing rapidly with a view to encouraging the domestic population to spend their holidays in the country (an estimated $6 billion is spent on overseas vacations each year).

The focus is also directed at encouraging pilgrims on haj to extend their visits. With the basic infrastructure already developed, resources are going into accommodation and recreational facilities. The focus is on resort cities and on amusement parks.

The commission has also been charged with developing plans to promote the country to other overseas visitors. The development of Saudi holiday destinations for western tourists may prove to be the least likely achieved. Not all historic sites are open to non-Muslims and hotel resorts, as found in neighbouring countries with facilities designed for Western tastes, must conform to Islamic traditions of modest dress, temperance and the social separation of men and single women.