Opinion | Will Saudi Arabia’s tourism push lead to ‘sea of change’ for safety, transport, women’s rights?
- Journalist Natalie Wong reflects on the tourism potential of Saudi Arabia, which she visited while covering Hong Kong leader John Lee’s Middle East diplomatic trip
- The kingdom faces challenges in its bid to attract 100 million visitors annually by 2030, including poor transport networks and a perception it is unsafe for travellers and brutal to women
Strolling through the mud walls and palaces at At-Turaif, one of Saudi Arabia’s most notable heritage sites on the outskirts of Riyadh, I was surprised there were few tourists in sight.
Beryl, a Canadian woman in her 70s, was one of the handful of visitors at the heart of the recently renovated Unesco site, regarded as the birthplace of the modern Saudi state founded in 1727.
“I quite enjoy the peace here. Outside this historical site, there are bustling cranes everywhere,” said Beryl, who was on the first day of a two-week tour in the kingdom.
Walking with me along well-paved red streets under the scorching sun, Beryl said she was drawn to Saudi Arabia after being impressed by the sleek Saudi Pavilion at last year’s World Expo in Dubai, which displayed videos about archaeological treasures.
Tourism potential
I was in Riyadh to cover Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee’s visit to the Middle East last month, as he sought to forge closer economic ties with the Gulf states.
