Saudi Arabia is laying out the welcome mat for visitors from Asia with a raft of initiatives, including changes to visa regulations.
The kingdom is also looking to seal strategic partnerships with global industry players, and further develop trip-planning amenities.
In the first eight months of 2023, more than 4.1 million visitors arrived in Saudi from Asia Pacific — a 15% increase from 2019 when the kingdom first opened its doors to the world.
Key highlights for Asia Pacific travellers when visiting the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia include:
- E-visa programme — Initially available to 49 countries and special administrative regions, it has now been expanded to include 63 territories, including Asia Pacific source markets such as Australia, Brunei, China, Hong Kong, Macau, Malaysia, New Zealand, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, and most recently, Thailand.
- Seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites — Saudi is home to seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites, with the latest addition — Uruq Bani Ma’arid.
- Online trip planner — Travellers will now be able to access a host of digital resources online, including up-to-date information on attractions and activities, as well as plan itineraries on the site.
- In-country support — The Saudi Authority operates representative offices in China, India, Japan, Malaysia, and South Korea, and recently opened offices in Australia, Bangladesh, and Pakistan.