Last week I read a letter in the Arab News from a reader who, I assume, is from the Philippines.
The reader related his experience on a tourism trip to nearby Taif.
The gentleman, inspired by a recent beautiful ad campaign promoting tourism in Saudi Arabia, took his camera and went to Taif. He had a wonderful time and was snapping away at the wildlife and mountain scenery, when suddenly, he was accosted by two policemen who hauled him off to the police station.
He spent two hours being interrogated and was then released after the police had confiscated the film in his camera.
The gentleman left Taif resolving never ever to return with or without his camera.
A lesser man than me would say, “I told you so!” but, I will not do it because that would not be very dignified.
I will instead explain to those of you not privileged with Saudi citizenship certain facts that those of us who are know.
In dealing with government departments it is important to understand that for the most part each and every one of them operates independently of the others. Sort of like planets orbiting in space; with only the most tenuous regard for the other departments.
In other words, the government’s left hand hardly ever knows what its right hand does and vice versa.
Here is a classic example: The Supreme Council for Tourism (SCT) is vigorously promoting tourism to and within the Kingdom. It is spending millions on slickly produced ads encouraging people to see the various sights available here and to visit the different parts of this country.
Meanwhile, the police are busily harassing the people who believe SCT propaganda and actually go and visit.
Of course, the tourists who have not been blessed with Saudi nationality do not realize that when they visit they are supposed to do so without any recording equipment, visual or even audio. Something we Saudis, who understand our government well, would never do.
The point I am trying to make is that it is still too early to encourage tourism in most parts of this country.
The major urban centers are an exception due to the greater sophistication of its inhabitants. So, Riyadh, Jeddah, Makkah, Madinah, Alkhobar and Dammam are suitable for tourism and tourists, especially those not honored with Saudi citizenship, may expect minimal harassment.
However, the vast hinterland outside these centers is an area in which foreigners must tread carefully and without cameras or recording devices.
We need in this country many years of education and awareness campaigns before we will be ready to deal with tourists in a way that is beneficial to both parties. We therefore must be careful not to encourage foreigners to go where they may be mistreated by government agencies or ordinary citizens.
Yes, we want tourists. And yes, we welcome all visitors to our beautiful country. But, it is also important for people to understand, that when they see an ad promoting tourism with happy people running about doing fun stuff, they are actually watching a wish or a dream of the future and not the current reality.
Therefore until the dream becomes a reality foreigners with touristy impulses would do well to confine themselves to wandering within our wonderful shopping centers (minus, of course, their cameras).
