The Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage has admittedly achieved a lot, but there are always possibilities of doing more.
In fact, there is enough tourism and human potential, as the commission’s chairman Prince Sultan bin Salman always affirms. On several occasions, he has said that opportunities are available to everybody. Focusing on internal tourism did yield some good results, but external tourism or encouraging foreign tourists to visit the Kingdom is more important.
However, this issue faces many limitations like visas and organizing sightseeing tours. It is not about religious tourism, but about recreational tourism. What is needed is a tourism program that is capable of overcoming the issues.
To begin with, a special program under the title “tourism of the elite” could be launched and businessmen and officials from all over the world could be invited to visit Saudi Arabia and live in an environment away from the daily humdrum of life. Things made available to them should be mud houses, food cooked on fire and well water, that’s it. No Internet or Twitter or other means of communication; but only natural air, clear sky, desert, trees or wilderness and mountains.
In such an environment, one could relax and get rid of the burdens of modern life and simply meditate in seclusion or just relax.
Is this day dreaming? No. All great achievements begin with small ideas.
It may be mentioned here that the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO has added the rock art in Hail to the World Heritage List. The addition was made during the committee’s 39th session in Bonn, Germany, and became the fourth site in the Kingdom to be included in the list.
Other local sites include Madain Saleh, Diriyah and Jeddah’s Al-Balad historic district.
Prince Sultan then said that the SCTNH had worked for two years with specialized international teams and partners in the Kingdom to prepare this site to meet all UNESCO’s requirements. “There are a number of ideas and programs that will lead to highlighting this site as a living witness of the Kingdom’s heritage as well as its ancient civilization.”
Saudi Arabia is indeed a gold mine of tourism.
