RIYADH, August 9 (Reuters) – Saudi Arabia agreed with Europe’s largest hotel organization, Accor, to expand and operate a beach hotel on Al-Ula’s $20 billion tourist allowance in the northwest region of the kingdom, the Royal Commission said for Sunday’s allocation.
Al-Ula, that of an ancient civilization in a remote corner of the northwest of the country, is part of the plans of the world’s largest crude oil exporter to diversify its oil-free economy and open up after decades of isolation.
The agreement will make Accor operate in an extended Ashar complex of the Banyan Tree brand, with 47 new sets that will bring the overall capacity of the complex to 82 high-end villas, as well as a spa and several gourmet restaurants, according to a statement from the commission.
The assignment is in the Ashar Valley, 15 km (9 miles) from the first site of the UNESCO World Heritage Kingdom, Hegra.
In April, Saudi Arabia’s tourism minister told Reuters that the sector could fall by between 35% and 45% this year as a result of government movements to combat the coronavirus pandemic.
The ultra-conservative Muslim kingdom, closed for decades, has in recent years strict social codes such as the segregation of men and women in public and the demand that women wear fully covered black robes, or abayas.
The progression of Al-Ula is part of a crusade to maintain pre-Islamic heritage sites in order to attract non-Muslim tourists and national identity. An official opening to the world is expected as a year-round destination in October 2020.
The kingdom closed its borders to foreign pilgrims “umra” and tourists from at least 25 countries at the end of February. In March, he banned everything inside and outside the country. Saudi Arabia has reported 287262 cases of COVID-19, respiratory disease caused by the new coronavirus, and 3130 deaths to date. (Report through Marwa Rashad; edited through Philippa Fletcher)
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