Saudi backtracks over visitor policy

The Saudi Arabian tourism authority has reportedly backtracked after its website was revealed to list four groups NOT welcome in the kingdom – including Jewish people. As reported by News From Abroad, the country last week decided that it would begin to issue tourism visas for those wanting to visit, but not “Jews, those with Israeli stamps in their passports, those who do not abide by Saudi traditions and those under the influence of alcohol”. But the new policy has come under fire – particularly from one US congressman who said the policy should be condemned by American officials. The Arab News website reports him as saying: “It is very difficult to see the Saudis as anything other than a backward country with backward ideals and this reaffirms that. I think the administration should take a hard look at this website and decide whether a country with these policies should be considered out ally,” adding that the US should “close its doors to Saudis until the policy is “clarified”. A spokesman for the Saudi Embassy in the United States reportedly stated that Israelis are barred because the country has no diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia, but added that there are “no rules regarding Jews or any religious believer”. He reportedly said he was “stunned” about the website, adding: “That is not our policy. The tourism board is looking into how it got there.” Report by Tim Gillett, News From Abroad