IN a long report published by the New York Times, American writer Ben Hubbard encapsulates his take on Saudi tourism in a few words: "Untrammeled beaches, ancient sites and unfiltered local culture are all on offer in Saudi Arabia. Just don't expect an easy trip." Hubbard, who visited the marvelous Farasan Island in the southern Jazan region, considered his trip as "my first lesson in what it means to travel in a country full of potential tourist sites that the government is ambivalent about letting foreigners see." He indicated that many other countries in the region like Egypt, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates have invested to make tourism pillars of their economies while Saudi Arabia stands apart for a good reason. "The country's identity revolves around being the birthplace of Islam and home to its holiest sites. Part of that heritage is adherence to a strict creed by which shops close throughout the day for prayer, women wear head-to-toe black gowns and are barred from driving or from socializing with unrelated men," Hubbard wrote. All these things, according to the writer, keeps Saudi Arabia off the list of countries where most Westerners — and even many Saudis — want to spend spring break. Keeping foreigners aloof from the Kingdom means losing an opportunity to tap the country's tourism potentials as well as blocking the development of tourism infrastructure, which is a significant area for diversification of national income. As oil prices continue to fall, we need new sources of revenue. It is true that our huge oil reserves have helped us fortify our country's progress and economic growth. It is equally true that the vast wealth of historical sites and antiquities that we are blessed with will definitely attract a large number of tourists to the Kingdom with the sector becoming a major contributor to the national economy. Tourism will not deplete like oil reserves and will provide job opportunities to young Saudi men and women, much more than what oil had done in the past decades. We and even some foreigners understand the difficulty in overcoming certain customs and traditions. But we have to exploit this important economic resource in an acceptable way without clashing with our culture and traditions. At the same time, we should not waste more time standing hesitantly in the way of exploiting this vital sector, fearing the influence of a certain interest group in society. This group has played a big role in hampering the Kingdom's progress from the first Five-Year Development Plan as they were afraid of everything new. If the state succumbs to the fear and hesitation of this group the Kingdom would remain a captive of ignorance and backwardness and its economy will stagnate in agriculture and rearing of animals. We expect bold decisions from the government to boost the Kingdom's overall development. The decision-makers should focus on the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage as an effective agency that can recharge the state coffers and help complete development projects without the need for drawing on strategic reserves or taking loans from lending institutions.
