Saudi Arabia expects tens of thousands of World Cup visitors

The initiatives are meant to kick-start the kingdom's fledgling tourism industry, which was previously closed off and only started issuing visitor visas in September 2019 — only months before the coronavirus pandemic destroyed the sector globally.

Because lodging in Doha is expensive and scarce, Qatar's Gulf neighbors are anticipating a surge in visitors by arranging more than 160 shuttle flights between them each day and easing visa requirements.

Holders of the Hayya pass, the World Cup's mandatory permission given to ticket holders, have been offered multiple-entry 60-day permits by conservative Saudi Arabia, where alcohol is prohibited.

During the month-long competition, there will be 240 weekly flights from Saudi Arabia to Qatar, up from the usual six, the tourism minister Ahmed Al Khateeb announced on the sidelines of an investor summit in Riyadh.

Roads between Riyadh and other cities in eastern Saudi Arabia, which are closer to Qatar, to the border have been renovated for overland travelers, according to Khateeb.

According to him, they have also increased the number of gas stations, internet access, and first aid and other medical facilities available along the road.

He noted that passing through a recently opened 10-lane border crossing "doesn't take you more than 10 minutes."

By facilitating cross-border movement, Saudi Arabian ticket buyers might have a choice other than staying in Doha, where more than a million spectators are anticipated.

"In terms of travel, mobility, planes, airports, borders, healthcare, and telecommunications, I believe we are prepared. We're eager and prepared "said Khateeb.

"We are eagerly anticipating the commencement of the World Cup and the arrival of our visitors from all over the world."

In addition, he said: "We are collaborating with the travel operators in Europe, Latin America, and Asia, and we anticipate selling tens of thousands of packages."

In an effort to diversify its oil-dependent economy and open up to the rest of the world, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's Vision 2030 reform agenda includes a target for Saudi Arabia to draw 30 million foreign tourists yearly by the year 2030.

While the kingdom has recently loosened restrictions on things like cinemas, concerts with mixed genders, and sporting extravaganzas, other policies like the prohibition on alcohol and laws against homosexuality are still in place, which could hurt the kingdom's appeal.

The so-called giga-projects, overseen by Prince Mohammed, are a prominent aspect of the push for tourism. These projects include the $500 billion NEOM futuristic megacity, a burgeoning arts district in Al-Ula among old Nabatean tombs, and the Red Sea Project, a resort area modeled after the Maldives.