Saudi Arabian Tourism and Women Travellers
Author: Amy Greenhalgh
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Saudi Arabia has been a closed society for other than religious pilgrimage and business and considered as repressive, particularly over treatment of women. it has started to change and is trying to become a mainstream tourist destination. However, it faces many challenges to improve society for women and change its reputation to attract international travellers. It aims to extend and diversify into cultural and heritage tourism and has developed a Royal Vision 2030 with strategies to move from oil-based to a service-based economy, aiming to attract over 30 million visitors by 2030 (Abuhjeeleh, 2019).
The main reason for change is economic as it recognises the need to change its workforce to sustain itself and lessen dependency on oil. Burns 2007, shows in 2000 Saudi had a large population of immigrant workers at 5.8M (26% of the population) and productive employment for nationals is a serious social problem. A key reform factor is that migrant labour needs to be reduced and the proportion of Saudis working needs to increase (Hvidt, 2018). Tourism has a big role to play in developing a service industry creating many semi-skilled jobs (Burns, 2007). More Saudi women into the workforce is important, in 2007 they were a small percentage of total women in the labour force and unlikely to have jobs involving direct interaction with men (Burns, 2007). For Saudi, redressing the role of women is an important part in creating a society based on skills, talent, and hard work as from a total population of 32M, only 1M are Saudi women (Hvidt, 2018).
In Saudi women face many issues, unfair trials, discrimination in law and lack of protection from sexual and other violence. Women have limited roles in society with many guardianship rules like not being allowed to receive medical treatment, conduct business, or travel abroad without written permission from a male guardian. Women are restricted to women only education facilities and religion, culture and tradition dictate they should not mix with men, if not related. Saudi has what many consider unacceptable laws around, drugs, alcohol, what women wear and extra-marital sexual relations, homosexual acts and being transgender are illegal, all with severe penalties.
Under new leadership (Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman) Saudi is trying to change its reputation and make itself acceptable to the international community. The aim, via reform of its strict laws, is to make the country more acceptable to foreign investors and help diversify into tourism (Hvidt, 2018). Several agencies and public bodies have been created to promote tourism affairs and activities (Abuhjeeleh, 2019). To facilitate an increased female labour force there have been changes e.g., not having to present marriage licenses at hotels and allowing women to drive (Abuhjeeleh, 2019). In 2017 Saudi allowed women to vote, attend sporting events and female-only gyms. Restrictions on women travellers have been lifted, women can rent hotel rooms alone and foreign men and women can share a room without proof of marriage. In 2019 Saudi dropped its strict dress code for foreign women though they must dress modestly.
Recent women travellers to Saudi show it is possible to do so safely and different from media portrayal with shops having many international brands and, although all women wear abayas, they also wear makeup and accessories and there was evidence of unrelated men and women mixing. Though dress restrictions on foreign women have relaxed, advice is to dress conservatively and wearing an abaya out of respect and to fit in may help travelling freely. There’s still segregation, with separate areas in restaurants and public spaces for women and separate lines at food outlets. Visitors found it easy to travel alone and socialize with men and women, meeting strong, confident well-educated women who cover up for modesty rather than religious reasons. Always follow Islamic rules which are strictly enforced and do not show public displays of affection while travelling. Overall, evidence shows that although laws may have changed, tradition and customs may take longer.
Anyone travelling to Saudi must recognise its deep religious and cultural values and traditions. They must make a moral decision on whether they are supporting a regime with poor human rights, particular over women’s treatment or are helping to advance social change for Saudi women through their interactions and the provision of jobs. The travellers view was tourists are welcome and getting about is relatively easy however, do not go there unless you are prepared to respect the norms of a patriarchal and conservative society. The research shows it is possible for women to travel to Saudi Arabia safely and it could help make the country better for Saudi women. The more they are exposed to the outside world the more they may come to accept and expect more change is needed for an equitable society.
References
Abuhjeeleh, M. (2019) Rethinking Tourism in Saudi Arabia: Royal Vision 2030 Perspective. African Journal of Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure, 8(5). Available from https://www.ajhtl.com/uploads/7/1/6/3/7163688/article_37_vol_8_5__2019_jordan.pdf [accessed 3 May 2021].
Burns, P. (2007) From Hajj to Hedonism? Paradoxes of Developing Tourism in Saudi Arabia. In: R.F. Daher (eds.) Tourism in the Middle East: Continuity, Change and Transformation. Clevedon, England: Channel View Publications, 215-236.
Hvidt, M. (2018) The new role of women in the new Saudi Arabian economy. Videnscenter om det moderne Mellemøsten. Available from https://findresearcher.sdu.dk:8443/ws/portalfiles/portal/140141199/Hvidt_SAUDI_Role_of_women_April_2018.pdf [accessed 3 May 2021].
The main reason for change is economic as it recognises the need to change its workforce to sustain itself and lessen dependency on oil. Burns 2007, shows in 2000 Saudi had a large population of immigrant workers at 5.8M (26% of the population) and productive employment for nationals is a serious social problem. A key reform factor is that migrant labour needs to be reduced and the proportion of Saudis working needs to increase (Hvidt, 2018). Tourism has a big role to play in developing a service industry creating many semi-skilled jobs (Burns, 2007). More Saudi women into the workforce is important, in 2007 they were a small percentage of total women in the labour force and unlikely to have jobs involving direct interaction with men (Burns, 2007). For Saudi, redressing the role of women is an important part in creating a society based on skills, talent, and hard work as from a total population of 32M, only 1M are Saudi women (Hvidt, 2018).
In Saudi women face many issues, unfair trials, discrimination in law and lack of protection from sexual and other violence. Women have limited roles in society with many guardianship rules like not being allowed to receive medical treatment, conduct business, or travel abroad without written permission from a male guardian. Women are restricted to women only education facilities and religion, culture and tradition dictate they should not mix with men, if not related. Saudi has what many consider unacceptable laws around, drugs, alcohol, what women wear and extra-marital sexual relations, homosexual acts and being transgender are illegal, all with severe penalties.
Under new leadership (Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman) Saudi is trying to change its reputation and make itself acceptable to the international community. The aim, via reform of its strict laws, is to make the country more acceptable to foreign investors and help diversify into tourism (Hvidt, 2018). Several agencies and public bodies have been created to promote tourism affairs and activities (Abuhjeeleh, 2019). To facilitate an increased female labour force there have been changes e.g., not having to present marriage licenses at hotels and allowing women to drive (Abuhjeeleh, 2019). In 2017 Saudi allowed women to vote, attend sporting events and female-only gyms. Restrictions on women travellers have been lifted, women can rent hotel rooms alone and foreign men and women can share a room without proof of marriage. In 2019 Saudi dropped its strict dress code for foreign women though they must dress modestly.
Recent women travellers to Saudi show it is possible to do so safely and different from media portrayal with shops having many international brands and, although all women wear abayas, they also wear makeup and accessories and there was evidence of unrelated men and women mixing. Though dress restrictions on foreign women have relaxed, advice is to dress conservatively and wearing an abaya out of respect and to fit in may help travelling freely. There’s still segregation, with separate areas in restaurants and public spaces for women and separate lines at food outlets. Visitors found it easy to travel alone and socialize with men and women, meeting strong, confident well-educated women who cover up for modesty rather than religious reasons. Always follow Islamic rules which are strictly enforced and do not show public displays of affection while travelling. Overall, evidence shows that although laws may have changed, tradition and customs may take longer.
Anyone travelling to Saudi must recognise its deep religious and cultural values and traditions. They must make a moral decision on whether they are supporting a regime with poor human rights, particular over women’s treatment or are helping to advance social change for Saudi women through their interactions and the provision of jobs. The travellers view was tourists are welcome and getting about is relatively easy however, do not go there unless you are prepared to respect the norms of a patriarchal and conservative society. The research shows it is possible for women to travel to Saudi Arabia safely and it could help make the country better for Saudi women. The more they are exposed to the outside world the more they may come to accept and expect more change is needed for an equitable society.
References
Abuhjeeleh, M. (2019) Rethinking Tourism in Saudi Arabia: Royal Vision 2030 Perspective. African Journal of Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure, 8(5). Available from https://www.ajhtl.com/uploads/7/1/6/3/7163688/article_37_vol_8_5__2019_jordan.pdf [accessed 3 May 2021].
Burns, P. (2007) From Hajj to Hedonism? Paradoxes of Developing Tourism in Saudi Arabia. In: R.F. Daher (eds.) Tourism in the Middle East: Continuity, Change and Transformation. Clevedon, England: Channel View Publications, 215-236.
Hvidt, M. (2018) The new role of women in the new Saudi Arabian economy. Videnscenter om det moderne Mellemøsten. Available from https://findresearcher.sdu.dk:8443/ws/portalfiles/portal/140141199/Hvidt_SAUDI_Role_of_women_April_2018.pdf [accessed 3 May 2021].