Saudi Arabia will be the first country ever to use an old oil platform to create a tourist destination. The project is expected to be open to the public by January 2022.
Many countries plead their citizens to reduce, reuse and recycle, but it’s unusual for a country to show their population that giving new life to otherwise useless objects can be fun.
The Saudi Arabian government started this project during covid, to increase tourism once the pandemic ceases and borders reopen.
Saudi Arabia is teaching with examples. They started by creating a campaign for nationally recycling car parts, and now take on the task of reusing an old oil rig and transforming it into an amusement park.
The offshore centre, called “The Rig”, will include 2 hotels, more than 10 restaurants, a rollercoaster and extreme activities such as bungee jumping, skydiving and more.
Not only will this park create a new source of income for the country’s economy, it’s expected that each year more tourists will enjoy said attractions than every other attraction in the country together, but it is being recognized as the only leisure park where no single plastics will be allowed.
This is an impactful statement against climate change, using an ex-oil extraction platform for creating an environment-friendly park.
Some controversy regarding tourism in the nation exists due to some polemic laws regarding women, though CNN Travel claims that if “The Rig” proves to be as successful as expected, then this will ” reposition Saudi Arabia as a top international tourism destination”.
Who said reusing couldn't be fun?
Bibliography
Hardingham-Gill, T. (2021, October 19). Saudi Arabia to launch enormous oil themed 'extreme park'. CNN. https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/saudi-arabia-oil-rig-theme-park/index.html
Kulovic, N. (2021, October 19). Saudi Arabia reveals plans for THE RIG – new ‘extreme park’ inspired by offshore platforms. [Photograph]. Offshore Energy. https://www.offshore-energy.biz/saudi-arabia-reveals-plans-for-the-rig-new-extreme-park-inspired-by-offshore-platforms/
Stouhi, D. (2021, October 24). Saudi Arabia is Converting an Oil Rig into the World's First Offshore Extreme Amusement and Leisure Park. The Arch Daily. https://www.archdaily.com/970739/saudi-arabia-is-converting-an-oil-rig-into-the-worlds-first-offshore-extreme-amusement-and-leisure-park