Saudi Arabia's Tourism Bet Faces Unexpected Challenge with Christian Visitors.

Saudi Arabia is investing billions of dollars into its tourism sector as part of its long-term plan to diversify its economy away from oil. The country wants to see tourism go from contributing 3% to national income to 10%, and add a million more jobs to the sector. However, there are challenges, including water scarcity, conservative local culture, and human rights issues. Critics also question the sustainability claims of some of the mega-projects, and the potential strain on resources. Some experts hope Saudi tourism will diversify and focus on the country's natural and cultural assets in a low-impact, responsible way.