Saudi Arabia will drop its strict dress code for foreign women as it seeks, for the first time, to attract tourists and spending by tourists could help develop the kingdom's economy away from its reliance on oil.

Foreign women will not have to wear an abaya, the cloak that has been compulsory attire for decades, although they will be instructed to wear "modest clothing," said Ahmed Al-Khateeb, chairman of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage. and a key adviser to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

On Saturday, the government will open tourist visa applications online for citizens of 49 countries, while others can apply at embassies and consulates abroad, Al-Khateeb told Bloomberg TV in Riyadh.

Saudi Arabia has long been one of the most difficult countries in the world to visit, previously only issuing visas for business travel, religious pilgrimage or family reunions. But in 2016, when falling oil prices wreaked havoc on the kingdom's finances, the government promised to develop tourism as part of Prince Mohammed's economic transformation plan. Officials say it's a promising non-oil sector that could help attract dollars and spark a new kind of foreign spending.

"We encourage the private sector and the investor to come and explore the huge number of opportunities," said Al-Khateeb, detailing plans to expand the airport's capacity, add hundreds of thousands of hotel rooms and develop restaurant and restaurant offerings. lifestyles.

'Exposed to sin'

However, opening up to foreign tourists also means opening up to their foreign ways, a major change for a country where a rigid interpretation of Islam long governed all aspects of life, from gender mixing to eyebrow plucking. .

The kingdom has already dealt with a series of social changes in recent years, and some Saudis are delighted with the transformation, but others remain deeply conservative, and seeing foreign tourists wandering the streets of Riyadh without abayas will be controversial.

"These tourists are going to poison our society by bringing their un-Islamic customs," said Manal, a 35-year-old Riyadh resident who withheld her last name so she could speak freely. "We will be exposed to sin," she added.

It's also unclear to what extent the kingdom is willing to break the rules on alcohol and dating, both of which are prohibited, which could be off-putting to would-be visitors. Some hotels have been told not to ask about marital status of guests.

taboo bikini

Many Saudis are excited about the new opportunities that tourism will bring.

"I can imagine how many job opportunities there will be in the tourism sector, as well as food and retail," said Njoud Fahad, a 28-year-old travel blogger. "Society will be enriched by all the diversity of people who come from all over the world with their culture and language," he added.

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Al-Khateeb said the government is targeting 64 million visits by 2022 and 100 million per year by 2030, up from 40 million today, though that includes both domestic and foreign tourists.

Hordes of Western tourists are unlikely to flock to a country where bikinis are taboo and people illegally make wine at home.

Saudi Arabia's reputation abroad has also taken a hit since the murder of critic Jamal Khashoggi at the kingdom's consulate in Istanbul a year ago, sparking international outrage and the arrest of prominent women's rights activists accused by the authorities to undermine state security.

'Welcome Nation'

However, the new visas could attract more adventurous travelers, particularly those who want to visit virgin islands, see little-known historical sites or explore an often misunderstood culture.

Tour guide Wael Alkaled, 34, said he often gets questions from foreigners about photos he posts on Instagram showing the pristine beaches and mountainous terrain of his northern Tabuk region.

"People come to ask me where this place is, we would love to visit it," he said. "The launch of the tourist visa will create different job opportunities and more business," he explained.

Al-Khateeb said that he believes the Saudis will accept the influx of tourists.

"We have hundreds of thousands of Saudi students who studied abroad and came back, and we welcome different cultures, different religions," he said. "We are a very welcoming nation," he added.

Dress code

He pointed out that the country has already undergone massive changes in recent years, including the end of the ban that prevented women from driving women and the introduction of mixed-gender cinemas and concerts.

"If you don't agree with something, you have the right not to visit it," Al-Khateeb said. "Today, most of the changes are behind us," he detailed.

When asked if Saudi women will be allowed to go out without abayas, he declined to comment. "So far we are not discussing this because it has never been an issue," she said. "It's part of our culture," she added.

While abayas will be optional for foreign visitors and residents, they will be subject to rules requiring modest dress, he added.

Asked about potentially conflicting decisions by religious clerics, who for years had a major influence on government policy, he said: "The dress code will be published by the government and the government is the highest authority." the.

"What tourists here in Saudi Arabia can see and explore is the culture, the strong and great culture," Al-Khateeb said. "We're still authentic," he concluded.

With the assistance of Donna Abu-Nasr.