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Tuesday, October 31, 2006

Saudi Arabia Looking For More Tourists

Head there for some fun in the sun...unless you’re a lady that is.

MECCA, Saudi Arabia (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of Islam and home to its holiest shrines, hopes it can use its religious heritage to pull in not just pilgrims but tourists too, without compromising its way of life.

The Supreme Commission of Tourism (SCT) said earlier this year that tourist visas would be granted to foreigners for the first time. It licensed 18 tour operators to issue the visas, abolishing a long-standing requirement for a Saudi resident to sponsor those wishing to enter the country.

But the desert kingdom, where Islam is the writ of law, does not plan to water down the central role of religion in daily life or compromise its strict system of public morals, including a ban on alcohol.

Because the SCT wants tourists to remember their visits, the interior ministry has ended a ban on photography with the declared goal of attracting more visitors.

But make no mistake: alcohol will remain banned, women will have to cover from head to toe and Muslims alone can set foot in the Islamic holy cities of Mecca and Medina.

No booze, restricted movement, women covered from head to toe...sounds like a blast.

Comments

Maybe I’ll get to sit by the pool and read my book in peace for once.


The Debate is over!  Global Whining has been confirmed.


The Whistler's signature
The Whistler on October 31, 2006 at 05:25 am
Rob
Rob
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Yeah...now that all the bikini girls are covered up and kept from harassing you for autographs and stuff…


The war against illegal plunder has been fought since the beginning of the world. But how is… legal plunder to be identified? Quite simply. See if the law takes from some persons what belongs to them, and gives it to other persons to whom it does not belong. See if the law benefits one citizen at the expense of another by doing what the citizen himself cannot do without committing a crime. Then abolish this law without delay … If such a law is not abolished immediately it will spread, multiply and develop into a system.

Frédéric Bastiat, The Law

Rob’s recently listened-to songs:

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Rob on October 31, 2006 at 05:27 am
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And as I recall, no Jews whatsoever are allowed to set foot in Saudi Arabia.

Miami it ain’t, and Miami it ain’t ever gonna be…

J.

Jay Tea on October 31, 2006 at 05:32 am
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"Four grass 9-hole golf courses, two grass 18 hole courses, one 27-hole desert course and about ten 18-hole desert courses exist in the Kingdom. And more than half of them have been developed in the past eight years, indicating that golf is on the up-swing in Saudi Arabia.”
---from http://www.arabiangolf.com/

But if you can’t drink beer while playing, why bother?

Barbula on October 31, 2006 at 05:36 am
Rob
Rob
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No wonder so many of these Muslims from the middle east are willing to blow themselves up.  If you can’t enjoy a couple of beers during a round of golf or some bikini babes at the beach...what else is there to live for?

Not that those things are everything in life...but still.  It’s about the little things.


The war against illegal plunder has been fought since the beginning of the world. But how is… legal plunder to be identified? Quite simply. See if the law takes from some persons what belongs to them, and gives it to other persons to whom it does not belong. See if the law benefits one citizen at the expense of another by doing what the citizen himself cannot do without committing a crime. Then abolish this law without delay … If such a law is not abolished immediately it will spread, multiply and develop into a system.

Frédéric Bastiat, The Law

Rob’s recently listened-to songs:

robport.gif border=0

Rob on October 31, 2006 at 05:44 am
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..that’s why I’m investing in Dubai (aka the Manhattan of the Middle East)instead.

aNONOMISLY on October 31, 2006 at 08:01 am
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And as I recall, no Jews whatsoever are allowed to set foot in Saudi Arabia.

It goes way further than that, they actually check your passport to see if you ever been to Israel, ...to see the stamps. ..if you ever visited Israel they have a policy of putting you on the next plane out of the country.

same applies to ships I believe.

aNONOMISLY on October 31, 2006 at 11:00 am
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gotta love Google, ..

Saudi Arabia Travel Guide - Passport/Visa
Visa Note
(a) Holders of passports with Israeli stamps in them. (b) Passengers not complying with Saudi conventions of dress and behaviour, including those who appear to be in a state of intoxication, or who display inappropriate affection (especially between men and women) will be refused entry (see Social Conventions section).

p.s. I wonder what “inappropriate affection” is, lol.

in other Saudi news, ..

(a) Unaccompanied women must be met at the airport by their sponsor or husband and have confirmed onward reservations as far as their final destination in Saudi Arabia. If met by a sponsor, it is worth noting that there are restrictions on women travelling by car with men who are not related by blood or marriage. However, it is acceptable for women visiting for business purposes to be accompanied and met at the airport by male business partners: further enquiries can be made at the information centre or embassy. Women and under-aged children should be accompanied by a Moharram (close male family member). (b) No foreign passenger who is working as a domestic servant in Saudi Arabia should be transported to Saudi Arabia unless holding a valid non-refundable return ticket.

sounds like a great country to visit, if one want to step “back in time” that is!

aNONOMISLY on October 31, 2006 at 11:10 am
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I guess it isn’t a big deal, ..

Many Arab and Muslim countries will not allow entries to people with evidence of visits to Israel or used or unused Israeli visas in their passports, since the existence of the state of Israel is not recognised by these countries.

Afghanistan and Iraq are part of that club:

Arab and Muslim countries not accepting Israeli passports are:

Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Comoros, Djibouti, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia (except with written permission from the Malaysian government), Maldives, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.

aNONOMISLY on October 31, 2006 at 11:27 am
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The true and evil monster second kill free exchange evil monster world to order card, need of come in quickly!!!  game

wowgold on November 30, 2006 at 04:50 pm
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