Meow

http://www.zawya.com/story/Saudi_Ara...emailmarketing

"Amid growing demand in Saudi domestic tourism and intensified efforts to further boost the Kingdom's hospitality and tourism industry, a a renowned pioneer in the Arab world's tourism industry believes that success in the business rests on maintaining integrity.

Ziyad Bin Mahfouz, President of the Elaf Group of Companies for Travel, Tourism and Hotels, cited for his key contributions to further bolster the industry, said "credibility has always played a significant role in our continuing efforts toward success."

His efforts and long-term vision has greatly helped the company achieve rapid growth and expansion across the Middle East region's hotel and hospitality industry, delivering up to 5,000 hotel rooms by end-2012 across Jeddah, Makkah and Madina, which reflects the clients' growing trust in the company.

In an interview, Elaf's president said though the Arab Spring has definitely had a negative effect on the Middle East's business in general and the tourism segment in particular, "unlike other neighboring countries that have been affected by the turn of events, Saudi Arabia has managed to attract the attention of other key markets, mainly because of the stable and secure atmosphere that His Majesty King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, has created for the country."

Apart from visitors to Mecca, why else would anyone want to visit Saudi?

jackthehat

Indeed!

flares

http://www.scta.gov.sa/en/Pages/default.aspx The SCTA are giving it a go.

One place that blew me away was Mada'in Saleh - it's like Petra without the crowds - now a UNESCO heritage site. http://www.madainsaleh.net/ http://www.scta.gov.sa/en/Antiquitie...dainSaleh.aspx

Nabetian tombs that pre-date Islam hence the lack of local interest. Loads of old cave paintings if that's your thing.

Also Bowling Pin Rock and Elephant Rock close by and the old Hijazi railway and Al Ula heritage village (similar to Al Dir'iya in Riyadh) and mountains.

Here's some pics:- http://britishexpats.com/blogs/albums/saudiflares/

But the natives like to take a pop at you on the Madinah - Al Ula Road (4 Frenchies killed in 2008) so a police escort is required.

britexpat76

Corrected that for you

Bahtatboy

I watched the weekly Saudi debate show a few months ago (the one with the platitudinous old bloke with the Ronnie Corbett glasses, interviewed by a quite challenging and urbane young Saudi), and said old bloke reckoned that the Red Sea coast could become a huge tourist resort, and that many Germans would be keen to visit. He didn't expand on why only Germans (or Germans in particular), but it does conjour up a certain mental picture...

Meow

Germans on holiday in Saudi? The only nation that loves beer and pork more than the Brits.

auzdafluff

Don't forget the nudity bit.

lullabelle

And tiny porn pant beach attire. German men love tiny porn pants.

(now googling german men in tiny pants...)

They will, ahem, go down well.

Bahtatboy

Or getting your hand chopped off for pinching somebody else's sun lounger...

flares

I think you'll find their towels are down already...and yes the nights at the German Embo tend to be beer and pork-fests

Boomhauer

The Camel beauty contest?

typical

Saudi is probably second after North Korea for "most intriguing completely f**ked-up country". For that reason alone it'd attract a certain type of visitor.

Mada'in Saleh too. And diving off Jeddah... and when I went to look around the Economic City up near KAUST, I was shocked just how lovely the beach is there.

Saudi could actually have a fair amount to offer for tourism. I miss having a visa.

Patsy Stoned

http://www.ebaumsworld.com/pictures/view/213876/

littlejimmy

Number 4...

lullabelle

I swear to god (pick any one you like) that number four was at aquaventure on Saudi fun day.

My kids are still traumatised from that trip...