Saudi Arabia completes tourist visa regulations

The Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTH) along with the interior and foreign affairs ministries have completed and submitted the regulations of tourist visas to the government for approval, the Center for International Communication said on Sunday.

The Saudi government is expected to announce the decision soon, which is expected to have a major impact on the Kingdom’s nascent tourism industry, an SCTH official said.

The regulations, under which tourist visas will be issued, were reviewed in a series of meetings and workshops with relevant government institutions. Feedback was also received from investors, tourism and transport workers, and groups of beneficiaries and service providers, the statement saod.

SCTH said it has worked with various state institutions to prepare all arrangements related to the new visas, including an integrated electronic system to process and record visa transactions.

Saudi Arabia is focusing on bolstering its tourism sector as a key driver for growth in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 plan to diversify the economy. Nearly 900,000 Saudis work in the industry.  

Last year alone, the Kingdom welcomed an estimated 18 million visitors, most of whom came to perform the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages.

At present, Saudi Arabia is working on major tourism projects such as the Red Sea Project, a coastal lagoon covering some 50 untouched islands.