Jeddah, Saudi Arabia: Sait Majed and his wife spent their honeymoon on a cruise ship in the turquoise waters on the Saudi Saudi Arabia coast, a trip that is still a novelty in the conservative kingdom recently began to allow cruise ships at its port dock.
Foreign tourism in Saudi Arabia is limited and opportunities for domestic tourists are limited to the Crown Prince of Mohammed bin Salman starting a drive in 2016 to bring social change and diversify the economy away from its dependence on oil.
Since then, Saudi Arabia has introduced a tourist visa for foreign visitors and launched a series of tourism projects, including the coast of the Red Sea, and the government said it would want this sector to contribute 10 percent to gross domestic product in 2030.
Jeddah port was launched by the cruise terminal on the cruise terminal July.
“This is a three-day trip but has been very relaxed for us and a totally different experience,” Sait said when he and his wife took the wind on the main deck of MSc Bellissima, a cruise that could accommodate 2,500 guests at 19 floors.
Saudi Arabia hires MSc Bellissima from the Operator based in Geneva MSC Cruises as part of a Saudi summer campaign designed to encourage tourism from home and abroad.
Onboard entertainment, which includes dance shows, concerts and comedians stand, have been amended to serve Saudi tourists.
“Most of our guests are Saudi or residents in Saudi Arabia …
so we have adapted our products from 100% European offer to a mixture in a Saudi and Gulf style,” said Mohammed Abdulphate, the event manager at MSc Bellisima.
Cruise is also an opportunity for Dalal Mohammed, who booked a trip with his sister, to enjoy some new freedom that came up with the steps of the Crown men to dismantle the trusted system that was very criticized.
Women in Saudi Arabia still need “guardians” – relatives of men whose agreement they need for various decisions, including marriage and divorce, but they are now free of traveling alone.
Five years ago it was unthinkable for him to travel with only his sister and no guardian, said Mohammed.
“Even though we traveled at sea …
We still have privacy and we appreciate, that today, we swim in the pool provided for women, and we take dance lessons for girls,” he said.