Saudi's Dream in the Sand
Can a desert dictatorship turn itself into the next lush tourist destination?
Report by David Nicole and Jérôme Galichet, produced by RTS Radio Television Suisse
Until recently, Saudi Arabia was one of the most repressive countries on the planet. Now it plans to become a world leader in global tourism. Beyond the digital renderings, can its futuristic plans become reality?
“NEOM is a symbol that Saudi Arabia today is not camels and Bedouins, but a country with aspirations”, says the Swiss Ambassador. Yet reports link NEOM’s construction to mass displacement, environmental destruction and deaths. Investor Victor Lugli sees “an opportunity [...] it’s important to be here first”.
FULL SYNOPSIS