The new visas available since 1 April are Saudi Arabia's first created specifically for tourists.

Regulations restrict the visas to groups of 4 or more persons traveling with a registered tour operator.

Women will need to wear a headscarf throughout their visit, and women under 25 must be accompanied by a chaperone. (!)

And some holy sites will be off-limits to non-Muslims.

Also the US State Department warns of risk of terrorist attacks.

But still - better than no or few opportunities for leisure travelers to visit at all, as was the case prior to 1 April.