Wants those tourist dollars.
No doubt. Wildlife and ecosystem touring is popular in a lot of odd places.
And it may be the reforming Prince’s idea of quietly encouraging Westernization.
Are there tourist attractions in Saudi Arabia? Beaches, resorts, where westerners won’t have to obey restrictive Saudi dress codes and behavior laws?
I understand that Mecca itself is off limits to non-Muslims, and that entry to that city is restricted. It might be interesting to see the Kaaba stone or other such religious sites, but if non-Muslims are banned, then no way to make any tourist income from that.