Riyadh, September 28: On the occasion of the World Tourism Day, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia announced the opening of its doors to tourists from all over the world with the launch of the e-tourist visa.
The announcement was made during a ceremony organized by the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTH) in Riyadh. Citizens from 49 countries will be able to apply for an e-visa or receive a visa on arrival to Saudi Arabia. A dedicated online portal at visitsaudi.com was also launched and electronic kiosks are set to be available at airports to facilitate requests.
The ceremonial event coincided with the World Tourism Day and was attended by a large number of international tourism makers and investors in the presence of the Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Zurab Pololikashvili and President and CEO of World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC).
Visas will allow multiple entries and stays of up to 3 months for tourists. There are no restrictions for unaccompanied women as in the past, and Muslims can perform pilgrimage outside of haj season. Until now, foreigners travelling to Saudi Arabia have been largely restricted to resident workers and their dependents, business travellers, and Muslim pilgrims who are given special visas to visit the holy cities of Mecca and Medina.
The SCTH Chairman Al-Khateeb explained that since the launch of the Kingdom's Vision 2030, we have started to work hard to become a global tourist destination, coinciding with the launch of major tourism projects and the adoption of incentive regulations for investment in the tourism sector, including the Cabinet's approval of the general strategy for the national tourism development.