The Saudi Ministry of Tourism announced on Tuesday the availability of electronic visit visas for citizens of six countries, bringing the total number to 63 countries benefiting from this service.
The new countries include, Türkiye, Thailand, Panama, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Seychelles, and Mauritius. Citizens can obtain a visit visa electronically or directly upon arrival at one of the Kingdom’s international ports.
In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, tourism experts pointed to the importance of providing electronic visas to the largest number of countries, in order to meet the giant tourism projects that are emerging in the Kingdom, and to receive visitors from all over the world.
Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Chairman of the National Tourism Committee of the Federation of Saudi Chambers Nayef Al-Rajhi said the Kingdom was significantly expanding the granting of electronic visas to citizens of other countries, underlining its endeavor to promote the sector and reach its target to receive 100 million visitors in 2030.
According to Al-Rajhi, digital transformation in public and private agencies contributed to facilitating visitor procedures for tourists.
He added that Saudi Arabia’s tourism openness expands the work of the local private sector and attracts foreign capital to enter and invest in major tourism projects.
General Manager and CEO of Abdul Mohsen Al-Hokair Company Majed Al-Hokair told Asharq Al-Awsat that expanding the scope of electronic visas to include six new countries is a step towards achieving the Kingdom’s aspirations to advance the tourism sector and an opportunity for tourists to discover the country’s rich landmarks.
He added that Saudi Arabia has a target to raise the contribution of the tourism sector to the gross domestic product to exceed 10 percent, and to diversify the economy in line with the goals of Vision 2030.
Al-Hokair noted that the government would move forward to add more beneficiaries of the electronic visa system in order to encourage tourists to discover various sites across the Kingdom.
The new step by the Saudi government is part of efforts aimed at enhancing the country’s openness to the world, and supporting development and economic diversification to achieve the goals of Vision 2030. The goals include raising the tourism sector’s contribution to the gross domestic product from 3 to more than 10 percent and providing one million job opportunities in the sector.
In addition to citizens of the 63 countries, the tourist visa is available to seven other categories: residents of the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union countries, and holders of American and British visit visas, as well as those who hold Schengen visas, and all residents of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.
The Red Sea International Company recently announced the opening of its tourism destination to visitors from all over the world, through the Red Sea International Airport, which currently receives flights directly from Riyadh. The service will be expanded to include several other regions.
