A Clear Vision - The Future of Saudi Tourism

My husband and me in Asir Region, KSA, December 30, 2020

Let’s paint a clear picture of the future because as Covey (2020) pointed out, if we have a clear vision of where we want to be, we can “be truly effective” (p. 112) in achieving our goals. In our clear vision of the future, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) is a prime tourist destination, hotel rooms and desert campsites are full, world currencies are flowing into the country, Saudi hospitality is known around the globe, and there is a better understanding of the Muslim people and their faith. This is the picture Saudi wants for herself - that clear vision. To this end, the groundwork has already begun. KSA begun issuing tourist visas on September 27, 2019 (Saudi Tourism Authority, n.d., para. 1). The Saudi Tourism Authority (n.d.) declared “the new visa system is a historic milestone in opening Saudi Arabia to tourism” (para. 2). Before that, tourism in the Kingdom was mostly limited to Umrah and Hajj, holy pilgrimages to Mecca, but now, the rest of the country is free to be explored. The next step is making the remarkable natural and cultural sites fit for the tourists who have high expectations. They want clean, safe places to stay and clean, safe places to visit. To achieve this, littering has to stop. To stop littering, there has to be a shift in how we see the desert. To shift mindsets, we have to put an anti-littering campaign in place, and I believe Saudi tour guides can play a big part in promoting the campaign.

This winter, KSA got a taste of what a peak tourist season could look like. Due to Covid-19, Saudi was, and still is, on lockdown. While expatriates can leave the country, Saudis cannot, and many expatriates chose to stay in the Kingdom just in case the country completely closed again. People, who normally flood out of the country for most holidays - who had not traveled in over a year, needed - yes, needed - to travel. Sites like Abha, Al-Oula, and Jazan saw a spike in local and expatriate visitors. Saudi is home to five UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and we visited an ancient communal (a site to be added to that list) dwelling in the Asir region during a trip my family and I took to Jazan and Abha in December. That was a trip we would not have taken if it were not for the current circumstances. Granted, we saw beautiful scenery and experienced Saudi hospitality to the extreme. However, just like Riyadh and The Empty Quarter, the mountains and cities in the southeast were littered. This brought us to the conclusion that it was a wonderful experience but not one we were likely to repeat. 

Ancient Dwelling in Asir Region, KSA, December 30, 2020

I would like to point out that when one visits a place of natural beauty, like many of the sites in KSA, one wants to feel at peace. Beauty, harmony, and order (Center for Nonviolent Communication, 2005) are what one would expect to find in such peaceful places - not water bottles, crisps bags, and sheep or fish bones. The frustrating part is that it would just take a little bit of effort to get the trash where it needs to be for the sense of peace to be achieved.

I indeed am writing out of frustration because we do not all see eye-to-eye on this issue. Some people see littering as normal, and this is what we want to change in order to achieve the end vision for Saudi's tourism. I challenge tour guides to help people understand that it is not in Saudi's collective interest to continue to throw trash on the ground. Our tour guide, Mr. Khaled Took, a Saudi national, told us a story about how his interactions with an American soldier helped him realize that it was not acceptable to litter, what he referred to as, “just the desert” in his story. During our time with Mr. Took, we came to feel the great love he has for his country and his desire to help people see what he sees when he looks at the beautiful Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Perhaps Mr. Took and other dedicated tour guides like him can be Saudi’s Lorax. They can spread the end vision and help people take those steps necessary to make that vision a reality.

References

Center for Nonviolent Communication. (2005). Needs Inventory. https://www.cnvc.org/training/resource/needs-inventory

Covey, S. R. (2020). The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: 30th Anniversary Edition [Kindle]. East Roseville: Simon & amp; Schuster Australia.

Saudi Tourism Authority. (n.d.). Saudi Tourist Visa. https://www.visitsaudi.com/en/about-e-visa

UNESCO. (n.d.).World Heritage List. https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/

A Clean Take on Saudi and Tourism

Trash Clean up of a New Walking Area in Ar-rabia in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - January 16

          The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and her wise leaders have a vision for her and her people. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud stated, “My primary goal is to be an exemplary and leading nation in all aspects, and I will work with you in achieving this endeavour” (Vision 2030, 2021). One endeavor of which King Salman spoke is promoting tourism within the Kingdom. Tourists aspire to visit places that are pristine, but with the trash littering, not only the inhabited places in Saudi but also, the deserts, mountains, and coasts, Saudi will be overlooked as the tourist destination she can be. There needs to be a paradigm shift that “moves us from one way of seeing the world to another” (Covey, 2020, p. 13) in this magnificent Kingdom. There needs to be the understanding that the deserts, as well as the mountains and coasts, are treasures to be kept as God had intended them to be. To this end, I would like to start off an anti-littering public service campaign by organizing cleanup parties in which people, locals and expatriates, would meet at a site to collect the litter. These need to be highly visible places, so others can see the activity and possibly choose to join in. However, they also need to be safe and away from traffic. I am taking suggestion on such places in the comments.

          The great Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a beautiful country, and while most people associate her with the deserts, this country has majestic mountains and miles of coast lines. Her cities are becoming metropolitan, while the towns and villages maintain their individual, old world charm. Saudi Arabia would be the perfect place for tourists to experience these beautiful features and a unique and proud culture. Saudi's winters are the perfect time for North American and European tourists seeking to escape their own harsh winters to bask in mild, sunny days and ultimately spend their money. It could be a win, win situation for everyone. However, who would want to vacation in a place that is not clean?

In fact, when one is visiting another country, one wants to have the feeling that it is a safe place. The Wheel of Needs (n.d.) depicts that order is a factor in one’s sense of security, and litter does not relate to order. For instance, if one goes to Dubai or Kuala Lumpur there is a sense that these are safe places because they are clean. This order shows that the cities are cared for and, in turn, so are the people in them. This includes their visitors. It is widely known that Saudi hospitality is generous, and that the Saudis would never want to have their guests not feeling safe. 

          In the long run, it will be important for the citizens of KSA to understand they have several treasures they can share with the world. While Saudi hospitality is an important part of the experience, it is not the only aspect of tourism that needs to be part of this experience. This will be especially true when people from other regions of the world start to call Saudi their number one vacation spot. The shifts in paradigms that need to take place can be achieved through an anti-littering public service campaign that puts Saudi pride in its country in the forefront. This will not be a quick or even an easy process, but it can start with people witnessing others collecting trash and caring. Then the question can be posed, “If they care, then why can I not can care.” We all need to be part of the solution.

As seen in the photo above, my husband and I are in the process of cleaning a new walking are in our neighborhood. What places have you seen that need such attention? Leave your suggestions in the comment box, and we can set up Meet up Clean ups.

References

Covey, S. R. (2020). The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: 30th Anniversary Edition [Kindle]. East Roseville: Simon & amp; Schuster Australia.

Vision 2030: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. (2021, January). Retrieved January 20, 2021, from https://www.vision2030.gov.sa/en

The Wheel of Needs: Universal Human Needs. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://i.pinimg.com/originals/93/b8/f2/93b8f299b4fd7521aca3d3b7e2a0798c.jpg

Education to Change the Mindset of the People

A photo of the end of my street facing the sunset in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. January 15, 2020.

“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia produces around 15 million tons of municipal solid waste (MSW) each year with [an] average daily rate of 1.4 kg [about 3 lbs] per person” (Nizami, 2019, para 1). With this, littering in Saudi Arabia is a common practice, making the entire desert and her cities one enormous dump sight. The unsightly garbage strewn about everywhere will inevitably limit Saudi Arabia's virgining tourism industry - even worse, it is an environmental tragedy. To counter this, an anti-littering public service campaign focusing on national pride will serve to promote the idea that everyone is responsible for keeping this beautiful country clean.

Reference

Nizami, A. (2019, December 22). Recycling and waste-to-energy prospects in Saudi Arabia. Retrieved January 15, 2021, from https://www.bioenergyconsult.com/recycling-waste-to-energy-saudi-arabia/