Foreign women are not required to wear an Abaya

In the wake of expanding tourism, the Saudi government has abolished the dress code restriction for foreigners. Foreign women are not required to wear an Abaya in public places.

This step is taken for boosting tourism in the country so that the country would be less dependent on income generated from oil.

Women need to wear a modest dress

Ahmed Al-Khateeb, who is the chairman of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage and a key adviser to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has said that women are still bound to wear modest clothes.

Al-Khateeb, in an interview, told that the Saudi government will be opening the online tourists’ visas for 49 countries again while the others can apply through embassies and consulates.

Many changes are not yet socially acceptable

A 28 years old travel blogger, Njoud Fahad wrote that he is excited about the new job opportunities that would be created in the tourism sector, in food and retail.

Al-Khateeb mentioned that the government is seeking 64 million visitors by 2022 and 100 million per year by 2030. This figure includes both domestic and foreign tourists.

The new tourist visas have been introduced which would allow for more adventurous travelers and a greater number of visitors to the pristine islands.

Tour guide Wael Alkaled said that many foreigners ask him about the places in Saudi Arabia that are less known. He constantly updates his Instagram so that people would know that Saudi Arabia is full of beautiful places.

Source: Gulf News