In the autumn of last year, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia notably opened to the world when it issued visas for the Vision 2030 project. Czechia is among the less than fifty countries in question. We talked not only about this with the Saudi Ambassador to the Czech Republic, His Excellency Naif Bin Aboud.
Have noted interest in Czechs to visit your country?
Yes, we have. And of course we have also noticed the Czech media's interest when the Kingdom decided to open its doors to tourists. And although it is too early to determine the number of Czechs who have visited our country as a tourist destination, I expect this percentage to be decent in the next few years. In particular, in the light of the accelerating steps of Saudi Arabia to develop an appropriate tourism infrastructure, including legislation ensuring the provision of international standards in services. In this context, we must not forget to promote the tourist treasures of our kingdom.
Which places in your kingdom would you most recommend to tourists? I don’t only mean cities or resorts on the Red Sea coast, but also areas such as the Asir Mountains. Is it safe to travel around Saudi Arabia at all?
I will start with the second part of your question. The Kingdom is one of the safest countries, and the authorities are interested in the safety and comfort of every person in its territory. Otherwise, I am convinced that the wealth of tourism in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is great and varied and meets many tourists' interests, whether they are ancient monuments (such as Al Ula) or stunning landscapes such as the Asir Mountains or the charming beaches of Jeddah and East region.
Do you have any particular recommendations for Czech tourists as for what rules they should follow?
Saudi citizens are by nature hospitable and tourists have absolutely nothing to worry about. Of course, as in all countries of the world, they must take into account the customs and traditions of the host country and adhere to the advice to keep safe provided by local authorities.
What are the essential points of Vision 2030 project?
In fact, this is a question which, given its importance, requires a long and detailed answer. But because I am aware of the terms of publication and the need for brevity, I can summarize this by saying that Vision 2030 is a pioneering vision based on three major pillars: achieving a vibrant society, a prosperous economy and an ambitious homeland. Saudi Arabia has therefore launched a number of groundbreaking programmes such as the Quality of Life Programme, the National Transformation Programme and other significant and creative programmes.
In January, the Dakar Rally was held in Saudi Arabia, the Spanish football supercup took place too. Now you're prepearing for Formula 1. And are there any other projects?
Yes, the Qiddiya area, which is 40 kilometers southwest of Riyadh, is where the new racing circuit dedicated to organizing Formula 1 races will be from 2023. As for other major projects, I would like to confirm that what we can see in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia today is just the beginning. There will certainly be more similar projects and they all will be of the highest quality and international standards.
How do you assess the development of political and economic relations between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Czechia?
The bilateral relations can be described as promising, whether on a political, economic or cultural level. Especially after Adel Al-Jubeir, State Secretary of Foreign Affairs, was on an official visit to the capital of your republic on 8th January this year. It was a fruitful visit and positive meetings with senior Czech officials are currently underway and a joint economic committee is being convened to prepare a new phase of bilateral economic cooperation. There are indeed many and diverse aspects that can be highlighted in the political and economic sectors. Politically, it is possible to build on many points of agreement between the two countries in regional and international issues, peace efforts and the fight against terrorism. From an economic point of view, the Kingdom is considered to be the third economic partner of the Czech Republic from the Middle East, and I see nothing preventing us from making it the first economic partner - especially with regard to the pillars of Vision 2030 that seek an ambitious country and prosperous economy.
And which areas have the greatest potential for cooperation?
I think it is difficult to estimate the sectors in which both friendly countries can work together as they are diverse and promising, but I can give a few examples. In addition to intra-regional trade, there are important areas such as investment, mining, tourism, health, medical cooperation and the exchange of technology expertise.
Interest in Czechia
Citizens of Saudi Arabia have Czechia mainly connected with spa stays. " I can say that Saudi interest in Czechia as a therapeutic tourist destination is constantly growing, thanks to the good reputation Czechs have in this area and the good results of treating many Saudi citizens in several Czech spas," confirms JE Naif Bin Aboud. "On the other hand, I have recently noticed that the Czech Republic has also begun to attract Saudi Arabian tourists who are especially interested in recreational tourism and visits to architectural monuments, especially in the summer," he adds.
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