Summary
In Riyadh's old quarter, a small group of Polish holidaymakers exploring the mud-brick Masmak Fort were making history as some of the first foreign tourists to visit Saudi Arabia since it opened its doors.
Inside the small 19th century castle, their Saudi guide, wearing a white traditional dishdasha robe, described ancient customs of the ultra-conservative kingdom.
For the Polish adventurers, the main hurdle to visiting Saudi Arabia had been getting the visa they had been seeking for the past two years.
The pioneering Poles finally managed to enter Saudi Arabia thanks to a landmark decision enacted last month to offer tourist visas -- relaxing rules that had largely restricted visits to business travellers and Muslim pilgrims.
Despite these efforts, the capital -- home to seven million people, including two million foreigners -- has a sleepy air, with little of the glamour and buzz of its counterparts elsewhere in the Gulf.
Amid the rapid changes, the government must also raise awareness among Saudis about the importance of tourism for boosting the economy and employment opportunities, he added.
...