RIYADH: Saudi Arabia on Tuesday extended its electronic tourist visa access to nationals from six additional countries. This development brings the total number of countries with access to the electronic visa to 63.
According to Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Tourism, the new countries added to the list include Turkey, Panama, Thailand, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Mauritius, and Seychelles.
The Tourism Ministry said that nationals from these countries can apply for a tourist visa either online or upon arrival at one of Saudi Arabia’s international airports.
Holders of the tourist visa are granted the opportunity to visit the Kingdom for tourism purposes, perform Umrah outside the Hajj season, visit friends and relatives, and attend events, exhibitions, and conferences.
The visitor e-visa is valid for an entire year, allowing multiple entries and permitting a stay of up to 90 days. Additionally, Visit Saudi provides an online trip planner to help visitors create customized itineraries with ease.
Furthermore, a visitor e-visa is available to holders of valid Schengen, UK, and US visas that have been used to enter those countries before arriving in Saudi Arabia. It is also extended to permanent residents of EU and Gulf Cooperation Council countries, the UK, and the US.
Saudi Arabia also offers a complimentary 96-hour Stopover Visa, enabling passengers traveling through Saudia and Flynas to stay in the country for up to 96 hours before reaching their final destination.
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This expansion aligns with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, aimed at supporting development and economic diversification. One of its key objectives is to boost the tourism sector’s contribution to the gross domestic product and create one million job opportunities in the Saudi tourism sector.
The Ministry of Tourism introduced the visitor e-visa in 2019 to offer tourists and visitors from eligible countries the chance to explore Saudi Arabia’s tourist destinations, partake in entertainment events, and gain insights into Saudi culture.
Saudi Arabia Records 93% Increase in Visits In 2022
In 2022, Saudi Arabia recorded 94 million visits, a remarkable 93 percent increase from 2021, resulting in a tourism expenditure of SR185 billion ($49 billion).
Saudi Arabia is making significant strides toward reaching its goal of 100 million visits by 2030, with new targets being set. The plan aims for the tourism sector to contribute 10 percent to the GDP by 2030, which is currently at 4.5 percent, up from 3 percent in 2019.
The ministry’s commitment includes further expansion of the list of countries and regions whose citizens can obtain the visitor e-visa in parallel with the ongoing development of the Kingdom’s tourism sector infrastructure.
