The Reading / Listening - Saudi Arabia - Level 3

There is a new destination on the world tourism map - Saudi Arabia. The desert kingdom has decided to open its doors to tourists from around the world. It has decided to issue tourist visas to people from 49 different countries. The visas can be applied for online and will take just seven minutes to issue. Saudi Arabia's government believes its country has huge potential to develop into a prime tourism destination. It has a wealth of natural attractions, deserts, World Heritage sites, beautiful beaches and unique cultures. The government also wants to make sure it can earn money from other industries besides oil and gas. It hopes tourism will contribute 10 per cent of the country's GDP by 2030.

Tourists will be allowed to stay in Saudi Arabia for a maximum of 90 days in one year. They can enter the Kingdom multiple times in that year. However, non-Muslims will not be allowed to visit the holy sites of Mecca and Medina. Ahmad al-Khateeb, chairman of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage, explained the importance of tourism to Saudi. He said: "Opening Saudi Arabia to international tourists is a historic moment for our country." He added that Saudi has a lot to offer: "Businesses from around the world will establish operations within the Kingdom as its unique attractions, culture and natural beauty become more widely appreciated."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Saudi Arabia - Level 0,  Saudi Arabia - Level 1   or  Saudi Arabia - Level 2

Sources
  • https://www.wsj.com/articles/saudi-arabia-opens-kingdom-to-foreign-tourists-11569586198
  • https://www.arabnews.com/node/1560631/saudi-arabia
  • http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/article/578331


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. TOURISM: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about tourism. Change partners often and share your findings.
2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?
       destination / desert / kingdom / tourist / visa / potential / wealth / beaches / oil / gas
       Saudi Arabia / maximum / holy / sites / importance / international / business / beauty
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. BENEFICIAL: Students A strongly believe tourism is beneficial for a country; Students B strongly believe it isn't. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. SAUDI ARABIA: What do you know about Saudi Arabia? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

What I Know

What I Want To Know

Countryside

 

 

Coast

 

 

Food

 

 

People

 

 

Culture

 

 

Sights

 

 
MY e-BOOK
ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
See a sample

5. VISA: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "visa". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. HOLIDAY IN SAUDI: Rank these with your partner. Put the best things about a holiday to Saudi Arabia at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • people
  • weather
  • sights
  • desert
  • beaches
  • cities
  • handicrafts
  • festivals

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. destination a. Having or showing the ability to become or develop into something in the future.
      2. map b. Supply someone with something.
      3. issue c. A paper or Internet picture of an area of land or sea showing the roads, cities, rivers, etc.
      4. applied d. Give something (especially money) in order to help achieve or provide something.
      5. potential e. A place that people will make a special trip to visit.
      6. unique f. Make a formal application or request.
      7. contribute g. Being the only one of its kind; unlike anything else.

    Paragraph 2

      8. maximum h. Numerous and often.
      9. multiple i. Set up an organization, system, or set of rules.
      10. holy j. Was grateful for something.
      11. moment k. Special because it is related to God.
      12. establish l. An activity in which a business is involved.
      13. operation m. An exact point in time.
      14. appreciated n. The greatest or highest amount possible.

 

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).

  1. The article said Saudi Arabia is an old tourist destination.     T / F
  2. The article said Saudi Arabia wants to open its windows to tourism.     T / F
  3. An online visa for Saudi will take seven days to process.     T / F
  4. Saudi wants 10% of its GDP to come from tourism by 2030.     T / F
  5. Tourists will be able to stay in Saudi for a maximum of 90 days a year.    T / F
  6. Non-Muslims will not be allowed to go to Mecca or Medina.     T / F
  7. A tourism spokesman said opening to tourists wasn't so historic.     T / F
  8. The tourism spokesman said global businesses would open in Saudi.     T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

  1. new
  2. tourists
  3. issue
  4. prime
  5. earn
  6. stay
  7. multiple
  8. importance
  9. moment
  10. appreciated
  1. many
  2. get
  3. be grateful for
  4. provide
  5. remain
  6. significance
  7. additional
  8. point in time
  9. travelers
  10. important

3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

  1. There is a new destination on the
  2. The desert
  3. decided to open its
  4. The visas can be applied
  5. tourism will contribute 10 per cent
  6. a maximum of
  7. non-Muslims will
  8. a historic moment
  9. Saudi has a lot
  10. become more
  1. doors to tourists
  2. not be allowed to visit
  3. of the country's GDP
  4. to offer
  5. kingdom
  6. for our country
  7. world tourism map
  8. widely appreciated
  9. for online
  10. 90 days in one year

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
doors
attractions
applied
tourism
destination
decided
earn
huge

There is a new (1) ____________ on the world tourism map - Saudi Arabia. The desert kingdom has decided to open its (2) ____________ to tourists from around the world. It has (3) ____________ to issue tourist visas to people from 49 different countries. The visas can be (4) ____________ for online and will take just seven minutes to issue. Saudi Arabia's government believes its country has (5) ____________ potential to develop into a prime tourism destination. It has a wealth of natural (6) ____________, deserts, World Heritage sites, beautiful beaches and unique cultures. The government also wants to make sure it can (7) ____________ money from other industries besides oil and gas. It hopes (8) ____________ will contribute 10 per cent of the country's GDP by 2030.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
holy
historic
within
maximum
widely
multiple
importance
offer

Tourists will be allowed to stay in Saudi Arabia for a (9) ____________ of 90 days in one year. They can enter the Kingdom (10) ____________ times in that year. However, non-Muslims will not be allowed to visit the (11) ____________ sites of Mecca and Medina. Ahmad al-Khateeb, chairman of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage, explained the (12) ____________ of tourism to Saudi. He said: "Opening Saudi Arabia to international tourists is a (13) ____________ moment for our country." He added that Saudi has a lot to (14) ____________: "Businesses from around the world will establish operations (15) ____________ the Kingdom as its unique attractions, culture and natural beauty become more (16) ____________ appreciated."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  There is a new destination on the world ______
     a.  tourism map
     b.  touristy map
     c.  tour prism map
     d.  tour prism app
2)  The desert kingdom has decided to open its ______
     a.  doors to tourists
     b.  windows to tourists
     c.  floors to tourists
     d.  shores to tourists
3)  It has decided to issue ______
     a.  tourism visa
     b.  touristy vis-à-vis
     c.  tourist visa
     d.  tourist visas
4)  The visas can be applied for online and will take just seven ______
     a.  minutes to issue
     b.  minutes two tissue
     c.  minutes too issue
     d.  minutes to tissue
5)  The government also wants to make sure it can earn money ______
     a.  from other industry
     b.  from others industries
     c.  from other industries
     d.  from another industrials

6)  They can enter the Kingdom ______
     a.  multiply times
     b.  multiple times
     c.  multi pull times
     d.  multi-ply times
7)  However, non-Muslims will not be allowed to visit ______
     a.  an holy sites
     b.  a holy sites
     c.  the holly sites
     d.  the holy sites
8)  Opening Saudi Arabia to international tourists is a historic ______ country
     a.  memento for our
     b.  moment for our
     c.  momentum for our
     d.  moment four our
9)  Businesses from around the world will establish operations ______
     a.  within the Kingdom
     b.  wither the Kingdom
     c.  without the Kingdom
     d.  with the Kingdom
10)  its unique attractions, culture and natural beauty become more ______
     a.  widely depreciated
     b.  widely appreciated
     c.  widely app initiated
     d.  widely app reach rated

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

There is a new destination on the (1) ___________________ - Saudi Arabia. The desert kingdom has decided to (2) ___________________ to tourists from around the world. It has decided to issue (3) ___________________ people from 49 different countries. The visas can be applied for online and will take just seven minutes to issue. Saudi Arabia's government believes its country has huge (4) ___________________ into a prime tourism destination. It has a wealth of natural attractions, deserts, World Heritage sites, beautiful beaches (5) ___________________. The government also wants to make sure it can earn money from other industries besides oil and gas. It hopes (6) ___________________ 10 per cent of the country's GDP by 2030.

Tourists (7) ___________________ to stay in Saudi Arabia for a maximum of 90 days in one year. They can enter the Kingdom (8) ___________________ that year. However, non-Muslims will not be allowed to visit the holy sites of Mecca and Medina. Ahmad al-Khateeb, (9) ___________________ Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage, explained the importance of tourism to Saudi. He said: "Opening Saudi Arabia to international tourists is a (10) ___________________ our country." He added that Saudi has a lot to offer: "Businesses from around the world (11) ___________________ within the Kingdom as its unique attractions, culture and natural beauty become (12) ___________________."

Comprehension questions

  1. Where did the article say there was a new destination?
  2. What kind of kingdom did the article say Saudi Arabia was?
  3. How many nationalities will be allowed to visit Saudi Arabia as tourists?
  4. What industry does Saudi want to move away from besides gas?
  5. By when does Saudi want to get 10% of its GDP from tourism?
  6. How long can tourists stay in Saudi Arabia each year?
  7. How many times can tourists visit Saudi Arabia?
  8. Where won't non-Muslims be able to visit?
  9. What kind of moment did a chairman say this was for Saudi Arabia?
  10. What did a chairman say businesses would establish in Saudi Arabia?

Multiple choice quiz

1) Where did the article say there was a new destination?
a) in travel guides
b) the southern hemisphere
c) the Gulf
d) the world tourism map
2) What kind of kingdom did the article say Saudi Arabia was?
a) a desiccated kingdom
b) a desert kingdom
c) a deserted kingdom
d) a dessert kingdom
3) How many nationalities will be allowed to visit Saudi Arabia as tourists?
a) 46
b) 47
c) 48
d) 49
4) What industry does Saudi want to move away from besides gas?
a) car making
b) shipping
c) oil
d) date production
5) By when does Saudi want to get 10% of its GDP from tourism?
a) 2045
b) 2035
c) 2040
d) 2030

6) How long can tourists stay in Saudi Arabia each year?
a) 80 days
b) 70 days
c) 90 days
d) 100 days
7) How many times can tourists visit Saudi Arabia?
a) multiple times
b) once
c) twice
d) three times
8) Where won't non-Muslims be able to visit?
a) Riyadh and Medina
b) Mecca and Riyadh
c) Mecca and Medina
d) Medina and Jeddah
9) What kind of moment did a chairman say this was for Saudi Arabia?
a) a great moment
b) a historic moment
c) a scary moment
d) an unfortunate moment
10) What did a chairman say businesses would establish in Saudi Arabia?
a) operations
b) headquarters
c) employment
d) shops

Role play

Role  A – People
You think the people are the best thing about Saudi Arabia. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): the food, the desert or the weather.

Role  B – Food
You think the food is the best thing about Saudi Arabia. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): the people, the desert or the weather.

Role  C – Desert
You think the desert is the best thing about Saudi Arabia. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): the food, the people or the weather.

Role  D – Weather
You think the weather is the best thing about Saudi Arabia. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): the food, the desert or the people.

After reading / listening

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words...

'tourism'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • and 'desert'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • • Share your findings with your partners.

    • Make questions using the words you found.

    • Ask your partner / group your questions.

    2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.

    •Share your questions with other classmates / groups. •Ask your partner / group your questions.

    3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…?

    4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

    5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall how they were used in the text:

    • map
    • 49
    • seven
    • wealth
    • beautiful
    • 2030
    • 90
    • multiple
    • holy
    • importance
    • lot
    • widely

    Student survey

    Write five GOOD questions about this topic in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper. When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

    (Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

    Discussion - Saudi Arabia opens up to tourism

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'tourism'?
    3. What do you know about Saudi Arabia?
    4. Why hasn't Saudi opened up to tourism before?
    5. Would you like to go to Saudi on holiday?
    6. Where is your favorite tourist destination?
    7. What do you think of applying for visas?
    8. How good a tourist destination is your country?
    9. What are the three best places to visit in your country?
    10. How important is Saudi Arabia's oil?

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What do you think of when you hear the word 'Saudi Arabia'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What do you think of Saudi as a tourism destination?
    5. What do you know about Saudi Arabia's holy sites?
    6. How will tourism benefit Saudi Arabia?
    7. How might tourism be bad for Saudi Arabia?
    8. How important is tourism for your country?
    9. What advice do you have for Saudi Arabia's tourism minister?
    10. What questions would you like to ask Saudi's tourism minister?

    Discussion — Write your own questions

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    (a) ________________

    (b) ________________

    (c) ________________

    (d) ________________

    (e) ________________

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    (f) ________________

    (g) ________________

    (h) ________________

    (i) ________________

    (j) ________________

    Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

    There is a new destination on the world tourism map - Saudi Arabia. The desert kingdom has decided to open its (1) ____ to tourists from around the world. It has decided to issue tourist visas to people (2) ____ 49 different countries. The visas can be applied for online and will take just seven minutes to (3) ____. Saudi Arabia's government believes its country has huge potential to develop into a (4) ____ tourism destination. It has a wealth of natural attractions, deserts, World Heritage sites, beautiful beaches and (5) ____ cultures. The government also wants to make sure it can earn money from other industries besides oil and gas. It hopes tourism will (6) ____ 10 per cent of the country's GDP by 2030.

    Tourists will be allowed to stay in Saudi Arabia for a maximum of 90 days in one year. They can enter the Kingdom (7) ____ times in that year. However, non-Muslims will not be (8) ____ to visit the holy sites of Mecca and Medina. Ahmad al-Khateeb, chairman of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage, explained the (9) ____ of tourism to Saudi. He said: "Opening Saudi Arabia to international tourists is a historic (10) ____ for our country." He added that Saudi has a lot to (11) ____: "Businesses from around the world will establish operations within the Kingdom as its unique attractions, culture and natural beauty become more (12) ____ appreciated."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     fans     (b)     vents     (c)     windows     (d)     doors    
    2. (a)     as     (b)     at     (c)     in     (d)     from    
    3. (a)     give     (b)     issue     (c)     online     (d)     photo    
    4. (a)     practice     (b)     prove     (c)     prime     (d)     prevalent    
    5. (a)     unique     (b)     handle     (c)     boom     (d)     aspect    
    6. (a)     contribute     (b)     attribute     (c)     retribution     (d)     tribute    
    7. (a)     multi     (b)     multiplication     (c)     multiply     (d)     multiple    
    8. (a)     allowed     (b)     let     (c)     permit     (d)     grant    
    9. (a)     impotent     (b)     importance     (c)     important     (d)     importantly    
    10. (a)     meant     (b)     mint     (c)     moment     (d)     memento    
    11. (a)     right     (b)     bless     (c)     offer     (d)     power     
    12. (a)     width     (b)     widely     (c)     widen     (d)     widespread

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. a new sntiaditeon on the world tourism map
    2. The visas can be ppliaed for online
    3. its country has huge tptneioal
    4. natural tratcaitnos
    5. earn money from other nuirtsides
    6. otcbirunte 10 per cent of the country's GDP

    Paragraph 2

    1. a ixammum of 90 days
    2. enter the Kingdom utmpille times
    3. visit the ohly sites
    4. a tshoiirc moment
    5. stbeilash operations
    6. become more idwely appreciated

    Put the text back together

    (...)  from around the world will establish operations within the Kingdom as its
    (...)  attractions, deserts, World Heritage sites, beautiful beaches and unique cultures. The government
    (...)  to open its doors to tourists from around the world. It has decided to issue tourist visas to people from 49
    (...)  sites of Mecca and Medina. Ahmad al-Khateeb, chairman of the Saudi Commission for Tourism
    (...)  unique attractions, culture and natural beauty become more widely appreciated."
    (...)  and National Heritage, explained the importance of tourism to Saudi. He said: "Opening Saudi Arabia to international
    (...)  government believes its country has huge potential to develop into a prime tourism destination. It has a wealth of natural
    (...)  tourists is a historic moment for our country." He added that Saudi has a lot to offer: "Businesses
    (...)  gas. It hopes tourism will contribute 10 per cent of the country's GDP by 2030.
    (...)  Tourists will be allowed to stay in Saudi Arabia for a maximum of 90 days in one year. They can
    (...)  different countries. The visas can be applied for online and will take just seven minutes to issue. Saudi Arabia's
    (...)  enter the Kingdom multiple times in that year. However, non-Muslims will not be allowed to visit the holy
    (  1  ) There is a new destination on the world tourism map - Saudi Arabia. The desert kingdom has decided
    (...)  also wants to make sure it can earn money from other industries besides oil and

    Put the words in the right order

    1. tourism   A   on   destination   the   world   new   map   .
    2. kingdom   its   The   desert   to   doors   .   open   decided
    3. visas   people   Issue   to   tourist   49   from   countries   .
    4. applied   visas   can   The   online   .   be   for
    5. can   industries   .   earn   other   money   It   from
    6. A   of   90   one   days   in   year   .   maximum
    7. holy   visit   sites   .   won't   Non-Muslims   allowed   to   be
    8. historic   .   Arabia   is   Saudi   tourists   to   international   Opening
    9. establish   Businesses   from   world   around   operations    .   the   will
    10. more   become   natural   Culture   beauty   and   appreciated  .   widely

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    There is a new destination on the world / worldly tourism map - Saudi Arabia. The desert kingdom has decided to open its windows / doors to tourists from around the world. It has decided to tissue / issue tourist visas to people from 49 different countries. The visas can been / be applied for online and will take / taking just seven minutes to issue. Saudi Arabia's government believes its country has huge / hug potential to develop into a prime tourism destination. It has a wealth / wealthy of natural attractions, deserts, World Heritage sites, beautiful beaches and unique / uniquely cultures. The government also wants to make sure it can learn / earn money from other industries besides oil and gas. It hopes tourism will contribute 10 per cent of the country's GDP by / at 2030.

    Tourists will be allow / allowed to stay in Saudi Arabia for a maximum of 90 days in one year. They can enter the / a Kingdom multiple times in that year. However, non-Muslims will not / no be allowed to visit the holy sites of Mecca and Medina. Ahmad al-Khateeb, chairman of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Hermitage / Heritage, explained the importance of tourism on / to Saudi. He said: "Opening Saudi Arabia to international tourists is / be a historic moment for our / your country." He added that Saudi has a lot to offer / offering: "Businesses from around the world will establish operations within the Kingdom at / as its unique attractions, culture and natural beauty become more widely / width appreciated."

    Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct.

    Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

    T h_r_ _s _ n_w d_s t_n_t__ n _n t h_ w_r l d t__ r_s m m_p - S__ d_ A r_b__ . T h_ d_s_r t k_n g d_m h_s d_c_d_d t_ _p_n _t s d__ r s t_ t__ r_s t s f r_m _r__ n d t h_ w_r l d . I t h_s d_c_d_d t_ _s s__ t__ r_s t v_s_s t_ p__ p l_ f r_m 4 9 d_f f_r_n t c__ n t r__ s . T h_ v_s_s c_n b_ _p p l__ d f_r _n l_n_ _n d w_l l t_k_ j_s t s_v_n m_n_t_s t_ _s s__ . S__ d_ A r_b__ ' s g_v_r n m_n t b_l__ v_s _t s c__ n t r y h_s h_g_ p_t_n t__ l t_ d_v_l_p _n t_ _ p r_m_ t__ r_s m d_s t_n_t__ n . I t h_s _ w__ l t h _f n_t_r_l _t t r_c t__ n s , d_s_r t s , W_r l d H_r_t_g_ s_t_s , b___t_f_l b__ c h_s _n d _n_q__ c_l t_r_s . T h_ g_v_r n m_n t _l s_ w_n t s t_ m_k_ s_r_ _t c_n __ r n m_n_y f r_m _t h_r _n d_s t r__ s b_s_d_s __ l _n d g_s . I t h_p_s t__ r_s m w_l l c_n t r_b_t_ 1 0 p_r c_n t _f t h_ c__ n t r y ' s G D P b y 2 0 3 0 .

    T__ r_s t s w_l l b_ _l l_w_d t_ s t_y _n S__ d_ A r_b__ f_r _ m_x_m_m _f 9 0 d_y s _n _n_ y__ r . T h_y c_n _n t_r t h_ K_n g d_m m_l t_p l_ t_m_s _n t h_t y__ r . H_w_v_r , n_n - M_s l_m s w_l l n_t b_ _l l_w_d t_ v_s_t t h_ h_l y s_t_s _f M_c c_ _n d M_d_n_. A h m_d _l - K h_t__ b , c h__ r m_n _f t h_ S__ d_ C_m m_s s__ n f_r T__ r_s m _n d N_t__ n_l H_r_t_g_, _x p l__ n_d t h_ _m p_r t_n c_ _f t__ r_s m t_ S__ d_. H_ s__ d : " O p_n_n g S__ d_ A r_b__ t_ _n t_r n_t__ n_l t__ r_s t s _s _ h_s t_r_c m_m_n t f_r __ r c__ n t r y . " H_ _d d_d t h_t S__ d_ h_s _ l_t t_ _f f_r : " B_s_n_s s_s f r_m _r__ n d t h_ w_r l d w_l l _s t_b l_s h _p_r_t__ n s w_t h_n t h_ K_n g d_m _s _t s _n_q__ _t t r_c t__ n s , c_l t_r_ _n d n_t_r_l b___t y b_c_m_ m_r_ w_d_l y _p p r_c__ t_d . "

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    there is a new destination on the world tourism map  saudi arabia the desert kingdom has decided to open its doors to tourists from around the world it has decided to issue tourist visas to people from 49 different countries the visas can be applied for online and will take just seven minutes to issue saudi arabias government believes its country has huge potential to develop into a prime tourism destination it has a wealth of natural attractions deserts world heritage sites beautiful beaches and unique cultures the government also wants to make sure it can earn money from other industries besides oil and gas it hopes tourism will contribute 10 per cent of the countrys gdp by 2030

    tourists will be allowed to stay in saudi arabia for a maximum of 90 days in one year they can enter the kingdom multiple times in that year however nonmuslims will not be allowed to visit the holy sites of mecca and medina ahmad alkhateeb chairman of the saudi commission for tourism and national heritage explained the importance of tourism to saudi he said opening saudi arabia to international tourists is a historic moment for our country he added that saudi has a lot to offer businesses from around the world will establish operations within the kingdom as its unique attractions culture and natural beauty become more widely appreciated

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Thereisanewdestinationontheworldtourismmap-SaudiArabia.Thed
    esertkingdomhasdecidedtoopenitsdoorstotouristsfromaroundthew
    orld.Ithasdecidedtoissuetouristvisastopeoplefrom49differentcount
    ries.Thevisascanbeappliedforonlineandwilltakejustsevenminutestoi
    ssue.SaudiArabia'sgovernmentbelievesitscountryhashugepotential
    todevelopintoaprimetourismdestination.Ithasawealthofnaturalattr
    actions,deserts,WorldHeritagesites,beautifulbeachesanduniquecult
    ures.Thegovernmentalsowantstomakesureitcanearnmoneyfromot
    herindustriesbesidesoilandgas.Ithopestourismwillcontribute10perc
    entofthecountry'sGDPby2030.TouristswillbeallowedtostayinSaudiA
    rabiaforamaximumof90daysinoneyear.TheycanentertheKingdomm
    ultipletimesinthatyear.However,non-Muslimswillnotbeallowedtovi
    sittheholysitesofMeccaandMedina.Ahmadal-Khateeb,chairmanoft
    heSaudiCommissionforTourismandNationalHeritage,explainedthei
    mportanceoftourismtoSaudi.Hesaid:"OpeningSaudiArabiatointerna
    tionaltouristsisahistoricmomentforourcountry."HeaddedthatSaudih
    asalottooffer:"Businessesfromaroundtheworldwillestablishoperatio
    nswithintheKingdomasitsuniqueattractions,cultureandnaturalbeaut
    ybecomemorewidelyappreciated."

    Free writing

    Write about Saudi Arabia for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    Increasing tourism will help the world. Discuss.

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    Homework

    1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google's search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.
    2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about this news story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
    3. SAUDI ARABIA: Make a poster about Saudi Arabia. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. TOURISM: Write a magazine article about increasing the amount of tourism in the world. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against this.
    Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).
    5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
    6. TOURISM: Write a letter to an expert on tourism. Ask him/her three questions about tourism. Give him/her three of your ideas. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

    A Few Additional Activities for Students

    Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

    Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

    Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

    Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

    Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

    Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

    Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

    Also...

    Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

    • News
    • Warm ups
    • Pre-reading / Post-reading
    • Using headlines
    • Working with words
    • While-reading / While-listening
    • Moving from text to speech
    • Post-reading / Post-listening
    • Discussions
    • Using opinions
    • Plans
    • Language
    • Using lists
    • Using quotes
    • Task-based activities
    • Role plays
    • Using the central characters in the article
    • Using themes from the news
    • Homework

    Buy my book

    $US 9.99

    Answers

    (Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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