Summary
Saudi Arabia said Friday it was offering tourist visas for the first time, opening up the ultra-conservative Islamic kingdom to holidaymakers as part of a push to diversify its economy away from oil. The kingdom also eased its strict dress code for foreign women, allowing them to go without the body-shrouding abaya robe that is still mandatory public wear for Saudi women, as authorities open up one of the last frontiers of global tourism.
Kickstarting tourism is one of the centerpieces of Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman's Vision 2030 reform program to prepare the biggest Arab economy for a post-oil era.
Tourism authorities have repeatedly said that Saudi Arabia will not permit alcohol.
The government, reeling from low oil prices, says it hopes tourism will contribute up to 10 percent of Gross Domestic Product by 2030 -- compared to 3 percent currently -- thanks to a targeted 100 million annual visits by both Saudi and foreign tourists.
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