Saudi Tourism Authority (STA), the department responsible for promoting tourism to Saudi Arabia, is set to organise its first-ever webinar for the Indian market, announcing the launch of ‘Journeys in Arabia: Opportunities Saudi’. This by-invitation launch webinar will be held on 17 February 2021 and will offer a glimpse into the largest country in the Middle East, and the fourth most populous in the MENA region.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a country of natural beauty, great diversity and hidden treasures. Saudi’s tourism offering focuses on delivering authentically Arabian adventure, culture and heritage underpinned by remarkable hospitality. It is the kingdom’s unique natural attributes and its authenticity as the home of Arabia that will attract and enthral travellers.
Saudi opened its doors to the world of leisure tourism in September 2019 with the launch of our tourism e-visa service. STA is confident that Saudi will emerge as a new must-see destination for adventurers and cultural explorers from all around the world.
Fahd Hamidaddin, CEO in STA, will deliver the keynote address at the webinar. The webinar will witness a panel discussion on ‘Opportunities for Tourism from India to Saudi Arabia’ shedding light on the authentic Arabian experiences Indian travellers can enjoy in Saudi Arabia.
The opening up of doors to leisure tourists by the Kingdom is a historic milestone and a key step in implementation of Vision 2030, the Kingdom’s economic diversification programme, aiming to connect Saudi Arabia to the world, build bridges between cultures and create prosperity for the future.
The Saudi e-Visa process, launched in September 2019, is a completely digital process. The Kingdom offers multiple-entry e-Visa valid for a year, allowing tourists to stay for up to 90 days per visit, and up to 180 days per year.
Tourists from eligible countries can apply for a tourist visa online through e-Visa portal ahead of their trip, or upon arrival in Saudi Arabia through visa kiosks at immigration. Tourists from other countries should apply for a consulate visa through Saudi embassies and consulates abroad.
In the first six months after the e-Visa facility launched over 400,000 visas were issued, and by 2022 Saudi Arabia is targeting 62 million annual visits, and by 2030, the plan is to host 100 million annual visits from domestic and overseas markets.
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