Saudi archaeological site reveals rock carvings dating back 10,000 years
Characterized by their large rocks dating back more than 10,000 Years BC that feature ancient carved drawings, Jebbah and al-Shwemas were registered as World Heritage sites by UNESCO. (Supplied)
Nadia al-Fawaz, Al Arabiya.net
Monday, 11 June 2018
Ancient drawings in Jebbah and al-Shwemas have revealed that both areas are among the most important archaeological sites in Saudi Arabia.
Characterized by their large rocks dating back more than 10,000 Years BC that feature ancient carved drawings, Jebbah and al-Shwemas were registered as World Heritage sites by UNESCO.
They are considered the fourth Heritage site in the kingdom after Madain Saleh, the At Tarif district, and the historic Jeddah, which are registered in the World Heritage List.
Located in the center of a basin surrounded by sand dunes on all sides, Jebbah is one of the most important and oldest rock sites in Saudi Arabia. It has several inscriptions and drawings on rocks in Mount Am Sanman and several nearby mountains.
Researcher Abdul Elah al-Fares told Al Arabiya that the site dates back to three different historical periods, but lately it was discovered that it dates even further to four. From the style of the drawings and carvings, Fares said the fourth period was during the early Islamic times.
Al-Shwemas is located about 320 kilometers south-west of Hail city. The inscriptions on its rocks date back more than 10,000 years BC. The area has an abundance of caves and volcano remains.
Last Update: Monday, 11 June 2018 KSA 12:14 - GMT 09:14
https://english.alarabiya.net/en/li...-rock-carvings-dating-back-10-000-years-.html
Opinion: Saudi Arabia needs to spread the word
Hard work is needed to turn the kingdom's tourism dreams into a reality
Mada’in Saleh: The Nabatean ruins are one of Saudi Arabia’s many cultural attractions
As GCC countries adjust to lower oil prices and strive to diversify their economies, one sector in particular looks set to experience exponential growth and play a prominent role: tourism.
Nowhere is this more evident than in Saudi Arabia, which for the first time in its history, is swinging open its doors to non-religious tourism. When the kingdom begins issuing tourist visas – an imminent and significant milestone – the country will begin a new chapter that has the potential to completely transform the kingdom.
Natural attractions
Luckily for Saudi, it has an enormous advantage in that it comes with ready-made attractions that will appeal to travellers of all kinds. There were plenty of reminders of this fact at last week’s Arabian Travel Market in Dubai, where promotional posters of the country’s attractions covered every column. From stunning archaeological sites such as Mada’in Saleh (above) to natural wonders like the Al Wahbah volcanic crater and diving in the Red Sea, the country has plenty to offer.
“The kingdom is a very big treasure,” Saudi tourism chief Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz said in a recent interview with AFP. “We’re not just oil traders.”
Saudi Arabia’s mission now – and its challenge – is to promote these sites to a world that is still largely unaware of them, as it did at Arabian Travel Market. Just as important, however, will be the kingdom’s efforts to shrug off a long-standing perception that the country’s tourism sector is limited to religious pilgrims and business travellers with a day or two to spare.
For companies involved in the travel, hospitality and tourism businesses, the opportunities are enormous. Saudia CEO Jaan Albrecht for example, says that he expects “glory days” for the airline as it works to accommodate an influx of non-religious tourists, and many hotel brands have announced significant expansion plans for Saudi Arabia. Chief among them is the UAE-based Rotana, which by the end of this year will have seven hotels in the kingdom, with three more in the pipeline.
Economic imperative
For Saudi Arabia, the implications of an enlarged tourism sector are enormous. Aside from the obvious benefits of tourism revenues to GDP, travel and tourism will help alleviate some of the kingdom’s unemployment rate, which in recent years has hovered around an alarming 12 percent. Tackling this issue forms a major part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030 reforms, and the tourism sector has the potential to create 1.2 million jobs, which primarily will go to Saudis.
Making this dream a reality will, of course, require hard work from all stakeholders involved in the industry, from airlines, to hotels, tour agencies and the government. The visa rules might have relaxed, but as I can personally attest after a painful application process for a work trip, there is much room for improvement.
So it will also require enthusiasm and a heavy dose of informal promotion. There are no better ambassadors for Saudi’s tourism sector than those involved in it, and those who have seen the country’s attractions with their own eyes.
It is up to them now to spread the word.
http://www.arabianbusiness.com/travel-hospitality/395222-saudi-arabia-swings-open-its-doors
Opening up? A historic building in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia’s main Red Sea port ( Saudi Tourism )
INDYGO
IS SAUDI ARABIA THE NEXT HOLIDAY HOTSPOT?
https://www.independent.co.uk/trave...sa-change-red-sea-jeddah-riyadh-a8241191.html
Other similar articles in the past few years echoing much of the same from the likes of Wall Street Journal, New York Times etc.
Will Saudi Arabia Open Itself Up for Tourism?
https://www.wsj.com/articles/will-saudi-arabia-open-itself-up-for-tourism-1468605153
CreditBryan Denton for The New York Times
In Saudi Arabia, a Kingdom to Myself
Untrammeled beaches, ancient sites and unfiltered local culture are all on offer in Saudi Arabia. Just don’t expect an easy trip.
https://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/06/travel/saudi-arabia-tourism.html
Saudi Arabia issues tourist visas: The world's newest travel destination is also its most controversial
BEN GROUNDWATER
Last updated 14:30, April 3 2018
Vivian Nereim/Washington Post
Sun, sand, religious police: holidays in Saudi Arabia may be hard sell. FFX-travel
OPINION: The world will soon have a new travel destination.
It's a warm place, this destination, where the sun is always shining. It has beaches. It has sea. It will soon have multi-million-dollar beach resorts on secluded coastlines and islands.
This place has a history that stretches back almost to the beginning of human civilisation. It has ruins from the Nabatean civilisation, the creators of famed Petra in Jordan. It has modern-day religious monuments of scale and importance the likes of which you've never before seen.
It has big cities and modern facilities; small villages in scenic places. It has a tasty, unique cuisine. And it has a local populace who are surely keen for some of their first interactions with the outside world. Pretty exciting, right?
https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/dest...el-destination-is-also-its-most-controversial
etc. etc.
https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/w...udi-arabia-to-pump-petrodollars-into-tourism/
Red Sea Project
NEOM
https://www.virgin.com/richard-branson/new-vision-saudi-arabia
DJI_0005 copy by
عبدالله العيدي, on Flickr
Stunning natural beauty by
KSA الصور, on Flickr
Jeddah Waterfront by
Dawood Hassan, on Flickr
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