時隔35年 沙特阿拉伯正式解禁電影院

Saudi Arabia has announced it will lift a ban on commercial cinemas that has lasted more than three decades.

沙特阿拉伯近日宣佈，將允許開辦商業電影院。這是30多年來沙特首次解禁電影院。

The ministry of culture and information said it would begin issuing licences immediately and that the first cinemas were expected to open in March.

沙特阿拉伯文化和新聞部表示，將開始發放電影院運營許可證。首批電影院將於3月份開放。

The measure is part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's Vision 2030 social and economic reform programme.

沙特王儲穆罕默德·本·薩勒曼近來出臺旨在對經濟和社會進行全面改革的“2030願景”，這項舉措是其中的一部分。

The conservative Muslim kingdom had cinemas in the 1970s, but clerics persuaded authorities to close them.

保守派穆斯林國家沙特在上世紀70年代開辦過電影院，但之後宗教人士說服政府將其關閉。

A statement issued by the culture ministry said the decision to license cinemas was "central to the government's programme to encourage an open and rich domestic culture for Saudis".

沙特阿拉伯文化和新聞部發布的一則聲明稱，允許開辦電影院的決定“是政府鼓勵沙特人享有公開豐富的國內文化生活計劃中的重要一環。”

"This marks a watershed moment in the development of the cultural economy in the Kingdom," Culture Minister Awwad Alawwad said.

沙特文化部長阿瓦德·阿拉瓦德表示：“這是沙特文化經濟發展的一個分水嶺。”

"Opening cinemas will act as a catalyst for economic growth and diversification; by developing the broader cultural sector we will create new employment and training opportunities, as well as enriching the kingdom's entertainment options."

“開放影院將是經濟增長和多元化的催化劑。通過發展更爲廣泛的文化部門，我們將創造出更多就業和培訓機會，並豐富沙特的娛樂選擇。”

The ministry said the move would open up a domestic market of more than 32 million people and that it anticipated there would be more than 300 cinemas with 2,000 screens by 2030.

該部門表示，沙特電影院的國內市場受衆超過3200萬人，預計到2030年，沙特將有超過300家影院，熒屏數量達到2000塊。