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SAUDI ARABIA expands e-visa program to six more countries. Turkey and Thailand are among six new countries deemed eligible for Saudi e-visas.
This was announced by the Arab Tourism Ministry last week. Apart from Turkey and Thailand, other countries that can apply for an e-visa are Panama, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Seychelles and Mauritius. The e-visa will be valid for one year and allows multiple entry. Tourists can stay for 90 consecutive days.
Investment IDR15.9 trillion
Saudi Arabia has set a target of attracting 100 million visitors annually by 2030, creating jobs for 1 million people in the tourism sector.
The country announced plans to invest up to US$1 trillion or around IDR15.9 trillion in its tourism industry. Half of it has been allocated for the Neom mega project. Neom is an Arabian city of the future with an area 33 times the size of New York. This city is predicted to become a sophisticated world-class entertainment and tourism center.
Neom is a form of Saudi Arabia’s transition from a country dependent on oil to technology. This is part of a long-term plan to shift away from oil revenues and diversify the economy, one of the main components of which is tourism. Saudi Arabia also opened its historical and cultural sites in 2016 to promote tourism in line with its 2030 vision.
E-visa since 2019
The e-visa allows the holder to perform the Umrah pilgrimage and visit all religious places and other tourist attractions.
The e-visa was launched in 2019 to facilitate international tourists’ access to Saudi Arabia. Tourists from these countries can apply for a visa online. Now, a total of 63 countries in the world can apply for a Saudi Arabia e-visa.
In 2022, Saudi Arabia expanded the eligibility list to include valid Schengen, UK and US visa holders. Previously in 2023, they also launched a stopover visa which allows tourists 96 hours to explore the Gulf country.
Saudi Arabia ranked second globally for tourist arrivals during the first seven months of 2023 according to United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) data.
According to the Kingdom’s Ministry of Tourism, Saudi Arabia experienced a 58% growth in visitor numbers during the first seven months of this year when compared to the same period in 2019, before COVID-19. [sources/photo special]
