Saudi Arabia Opens Kingdom To Foreign Tourists

(Wall Street Journal) Donna Abdulaziz Sept. 27 2019 10:12 am JEDDAH Saudi ArabiaSaudi Arabia is opening the ultraconservative kingdom to tourists for the first time easing restrictions for foreign visitors as part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salmans initiative to diversify the oil-dependent economy. Visas had been restricted to Muslim pilgrims and business and diplomatic visitors but on Friday the kingdom said its new online visa portal would be open to visitors from 49 countries including the U.S and major European and Asian countries. Opening Saudi Arabia to international tourists is a historic moment for our country" said Ahmad al-Khateeb chairman of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage. The change to the visa rules comes two weeks after debilitating attacks on its oil facilities for which Riyadh and U.S. officials blamed rival Iran raising fears of a broader conflict in the region. Tehran denied involvement. The drone and missile strikes took out half of Saudi Arabias crude production and raised questions about security in the kingdom a top military spender. It also comes days ahead of the first anniversary of journalist Jamal Khashoggis murder by Saudi government agents an incident that sparked widespread international criticism of the kingdom. Mr. Khashoggi a critic of the Saudi leadership was brutally killed inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. A Central Intelligence Agency assessment concluded last year that Prince Mohammed ordered the killing. Riyadh has denied the crown princes involvement. The murder which shattered the crown princes global image slowed foreign investment in the kingdom and complicated Prince Mohammeds plans to overhaul the Saudi economy to make it less dependent on oil. The introduction of tourism visas comes at a moment of economic fragility for Saudi Arabia as it struggles to jump-start non-oil industries.