Saudi Arabia wants to be a popular holiday destination for tourists.
Muslims pilgriming to Mecca pray in the Grand Mosque
Aware of the fall in oil and gas prices, Saudis are preparing for worse times. The Kingdom authorities focus on tourism, wanting to receive four times as many tourists by 2030 than today. And it's not just about pilgrims. Exclusive 'private islands', luxury hotels, yachts, private islands and possibly alcohol will soon be waiting for these irreligious ones.
Investments in Saudi Arabia are in full swing. The most important is the expansion of the Great Mosque in Mecca. Today this largest mosque in the world only during the annual Hajj - a mandatory pilgrimage, which, according to Islamic law, should be made by every Muslim - 1.75 million people. In a few years, the temple will house even more pilgrims. Expansion cost? $ 26.6 billion.
This is not all. So that the new pilgrims have a place to sit next to the mosque, the Abrai Kudai hotel is being built . The $ 3.6 billion investment is expected to have 10,000 rooms and 70 restaurants. Thus, it will become the largest hotel in the world. Added to this is the railway line between Mecca and Medina, which is to ensure the constant delivery of pilgrims. Effect? It is estimated that Saudi Arabia will invest 80 billion dollars in Mecca alone in the near future. And more billions will go to the reconstruction and renovation of historical and religious places around the country. The government has the ambition to double the number of Saudi heritage monuments registered in UNESCO by 2030.The government has the ambition to double the number of Saudi heritage monuments registered in UNESCO by 2030
It is no coincidence that the Saudis have planned so much expenditure on historical and religious sites. The country's leaders are seeking to make the country's economy independent of oil production. Saudi Arabia is, along with Russia, the world's largest producer of raw material. And the oil and oil industry is responsible for 87 percent. government revenues, 42% GDP and 90% exports.
Photo: EPA / MAST IRHAM / PAP
For now, the Sauds belong to the rich. In 2016, GDP per capita exceeded USD 55,000. It's almost 7,000 more than in Germany.
The problem is that the country's economy is strongly affected by falling prices of these commodities - in the first quarter of the year alone, GDP fell by 0.5 percent, and there are many indications that the oil and gas sector will never be as profitable as it used to be .
That is why last year the Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz officially presented the new economic plan of the country - "Vision 2030". Apart from the oil market, the main driving forces of the country's economy are to become extensive infrastructure, education and ... tourism.
Annually , 8 million people come to Saudi Arabia . Most of them are pilgrims visiting holy places of Islam. In Mecca and Medina alone, only 1.75 million people appear during the week. But for the leaders of Saudi Arabia this is not enough. They want to double the annual number of visitors to the country to 15 million by 2020, and to receive at least 30 million by 2030. And it is not only about religious tourists.
For all others, Saudi Arabia wants to create holiday resorts covering 50 islands on the Red Sea coast. There will be luxury hotels, airports, new roads and a port. The whole will have the size of Belgium.
Photo: NONE
Interestingly, the islands are to be built as a "private area" with regulations that match the "best international practices". In practice, this may mean that the law will not be as restrictive as in the rest of the country, where alcohol is not allowed, and residents are required to wear modest clothing, but the Kingdom authorities have not yet confirmed this information.The islands are to be built as a "private area" with regulations that match the "best international practices". This may mean lifting the ban on drinking alcohol
The construction of the super-resort is to start as early as 2019, the first tourists will be able to take advantage of its attractions three years later. As part of the plans related to the "2030 Vision", visa regulations are to be relaxed in Saudi Arabia.
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