THERE is a hidden Saudi treasure which, if tapped, would generate incomes that would match oil revenues on which we have depended for more than seven decades. The treasure is tourism. We have an abundance of tourist attractions, both natural and man-made. The potential for tourism is everywhere: in Makkah, Madinah, the south, the north and the center. We have many opportunities for summer and winter tourism that we could benefit from if we planned well. Many countries with far fewer tourist attractions than the Kingdom have flourished by making much of what little they have. We have not even done well with the only type of tourism we have currently and which no one in the world can compete with — religious tourism. Every year we receive millions of Haj and Umrah pilgrims who come and leave through the airports and seaports of Jeddah and Madinah. If we opened the doors of tourism to these people and encourage them to visit other Saudi towns and cities, or go to our beaches, we would unleash a host of new business and work opportunities for our jobless youth. We would also be opening the door to private enterprises where young Saudi men and women compete for jobs. There was a time when the summer tourism compass of Saudis and Gulf nationals pointed toward the south. The point of the compass soon started drifting elsewhere because these tourists did not find anything that tempted them to come back. They were dissuaded from heading south a second time. The south has lost all its glitter, even the song festivals that used to attract many fans in the past have disappeared. This equally applies to the Kingdom's beaches and islands on the Arabian Gulf or the Red Sea, where tourism opportunities are scant. There are many beaches that are still untapped and remain virgin. Not a single person has set his foot there. The Kingdom's north is replete with historic relics. It has a nice weather that can attract people, especially those who are looking for moderate temperatures. The central region with its spacious deserts and numerous sand dunes has ample opportunities for what we call desert tourism. The United Arab Emirates, for instance, has only limited desert and sand dunes, yet it was able to transform them into destinations for safaris that attract large numbers of tourists from abroad. Emiratis and citizens of GCC countries as well as foreigners coming to the UAE have become bored with visiting hotels, shopping malls and luxurious restaurants, so they have turned to desert tourism. In all frankness, which Chairman of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage Prince Sultan Bin Salman likes, I can say we have so far not been able to dig out our hidden treasure though we have discovered it many years ago. We are still at the start pointing, making long and tiresome discussions about our tourism potentials. After the launching of the National Transformation Program, I think it is time to wipe off the dust that has accumulated on our treasure. We should give this treasure its economic worth through good planning and consummate management. If we fail to do this, we will deprive the nation's coffers of guaranteed financial resources that are no less important than the depleting oil income. Remember, tourism is a wealth that cannot be depleted.
