Saudi Arabia
has opened its doors to the world after it announced that tourist visas will be
available to citizens from 49 countries.
For the first time, tourists can now apply for a visa through
Saudi embassies and consulates across the world
Marking a
milestone in Saudi Arabia’s history, Ahmed Al Khateeb, Chairman of the Saudi
Commission for Tourism and Heritage (SCTH), announced the launch of the tourist
visa for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at an event in Ad-Diriyah, a Unesco World
Heritage Site in Riyadh.
Citizens from 49 countries will also be able to apply for an
e-visa or receive a visa on arrival into 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 tourist visa allows for a stay of up to 3 months per entry,
with visitors able to spend up to 90 days a year in Saudi Arabia. The visa is
valid for one year with multiple entries.
The cost of
applying for an e-visa or a visa on arrival is 440 riyals (around $117) plus
VAT.
Saudi Arabia intends to extend the e-visa scheme to other
countries in due course.
Opening
Saudi Arabia to tourism is a key milestone in the implementation of Vision
2030, which seeks to diversify the country’s economy and reduce its dependence
on oil.
Saudi Arabia expects to increase international and domestic
visits to 100 million a year by 2030, attracting significant foreign and
domestic investment and creating a million jobs.
By 2030, the aim is for tourism to contribute up to 10 per cent
towards Saudi Arabia’s GDP, compared to just 3 per cent today.
These agreements demonstrate the private sector’s confidence in
the potential of the country’s tourism sector, and its prospects for future
growth.
Ahmed Al Khateeb, Chairman of SCTH, also explained: “These
exciting and wide-ranging agreements are only the beginning of the investment
opportunities that will arise within Saudi Arabia, the fastest growing tourism
sector on earth. We anticipate more businesses from around the world will
establish operations within the Kingdom, as its unique attractions, culture and
natural beauty become more widely appreciated.”
The 49 countries:
North America
Canada
US
Europe
Switzerland
Ireland
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Monaco
Andorra
Russia
Malta
Montenegro
San Marino
Ukraine
United Kingdom
Portugal
Poland
Austria
Belgium
Bulgaria
Romania
Slovakia
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Spain
Sweden
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
Norway
Luxembourg
France
Germany
Greece
Slovenia
Holland
Hungary
Iceland
Italy
Latvia
Asia
Brunei
Japan
Singapore
Malaysia
South Korea
Kazakhstan
China (Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan)
Oceania
Australia
New Zealand
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Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia
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