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| Saudi Arabia: Foreign couples can now rent hotel rooms | Saudi Arabia: Foreign couples can now rent hotel rooms |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Unmarried foreign couples will now be allowed to rent hotel rooms together in Saudi Arabia as part of a new visa regime announced by the kingdom's government. | Unmarried foreign couples will now be allowed to rent hotel rooms together in Saudi Arabia as part of a new visa regime announced by the kingdom's government. |
| Women will also be allowed to stay in hotel rooms alone. | Women will also be allowed to stay in hotel rooms alone. |
| Couples previously had to prove they were married before getting a hotel room. | Couples previously had to prove they were married before getting a hotel room. |
| The move comes amid efforts by the Saudi government to grow the tourism industry. | The move comes amid efforts by the Saudi government to grow the tourism industry. |
| What are the new changes? | What are the new changes? |
| In the past, couples had to provide documents proving marriage, but now these rules have been relaxed for foreigners. | In the past, couples had to provide documents proving marriage, but now these rules have been relaxed for foreigners. |
| "All Saudi nationals are asked to show family ID or proof of relationship on checking into hotels," the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage said in a statement. | "All Saudi nationals are asked to show family ID or proof of relationship on checking into hotels," the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage said in a statement. |
| "This is not required of foreign tourists. All women, including Saudis, can book and stay in hotels alone, providing ID on check-in." | "This is not required of foreign tourists. All women, including Saudis, can book and stay in hotels alone, providing ID on check-in." |
| The new visa regulations state that female tourists are not required to fully cover up but are still expected to dress modestly. | The new visa regulations state that female tourists are not required to fully cover up but are still expected to dress modestly. |
| Alcohol remains banned. | Alcohol remains banned. |
| What's behind the changes? | What's behind the changes? |
| Long seen as one of the strictest places on earth, Saudi Arabia is trying to soften its image in the eyes of foreign tourists and investors. | Long seen as one of the strictest places on earth, Saudi Arabia is trying to soften its image in the eyes of foreign tourists and investors. |
| Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has recently made some substantial changes in the ultra-conservative kingdom. | Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has recently made some substantial changes in the ultra-conservative kingdom. |
| These include ending a ban on female drivers and allowing women to travel abroad without a male guardian's permission. | These include ending a ban on female drivers and allowing women to travel abroad without a male guardian's permission. |
| But these changes have been overshadowed by highly controversial issues including the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. | But these changes have been overshadowed by highly controversial issues including the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. |
| Simon Calder, senior travel editor at The Independent, said that the relaxing of visa regulations would likely increase the number of people travelling to the kingdom. | Simon Calder, senior travel editor at The Independent, said that the relaxing of visa regulations would likely increase the number of people travelling to the kingdom. |
| "Vastly simplifying the bureaucracy of obtaining a visa should lead to an immediate surge in visitor numbers - initially, I imagine, from those with an interest in the Arab world and its heritage," he told the BBC. |