Saudi Arabia and travel agents forge new gateways for travel

Saudi Arabia has signed five Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Singapore's trade partners comprising Association of Muslim Travel Agents Singapore (AMTAS), Shahidah Travel & Tours, Azza Travel & Tours, TM Fouzy Travel and Tours, and TravelConnect.sg.

The partnerships aim to promote and market Saudi Arabia as a destination to the Muslim travel market in Singapore, foster cooperation and collaboration, expand the range of choices, and enhance the overall experience for travellers visiting Saudi Arabia.

The signing of these MoUs marks an important milestone for Saudi Arabia's tourism industry, as it continues to develop its offerings and establish its position as a leading destination for travellers worldwide.

By working closely with trade partners in Singapore, Alhasan Aldabbagh, president APAC, Saudi Tourism Authority (STA), explained that the objective is to promote Saudi Arabia as a travel destination and create a better understanding of the country's rich culture, history, and natural beauty for the Singaporean market.

Singapore is already a strategic market for Saudi Arabia and STA is committed to investing and working closely with local players to ensure experiences are relevant and appealing to the Singaporean market. Last year, Singaporean travellers exceeded 12% of 2019 visitor figures, and this year the STA aims to welcome over 60,000 Singaporean visitors.

From left: Alhasan Aldabbagh, president APAC, Saudi Tourism Authority; and Ustaz TM Fouzy Jumat, president, Association of Muslim Travel Agents Singapore (AMTAS)

During the MoU signings and roundtable in Singapore, STA announced two key initiatives: enhanced Umrah+ packages and the Stopover Visa. The enhanced Umrah+ packages are designed to enable travellers to discover Saudi as a great holiday destination with rich cultural and historical offerings, pristine nature, and diverse landscapes.

The Stopover Visa is open to all leisure, business, and religious travellers flying on SAUDIA and flynas, allowing travellers to experience a stopover in Saudi for up to 96 hours and enjoy a complimentary one-night hotel stay. This makes Saudi Arabia a perfect stopover destination for Singaporeans travelling to the US, UK, and Europe.

“We are developing different types of packages to meet the different personas of travellers," Aldabbagh shared. "We're working with the trade partners to develop those identities, depending on the diverse markets' dynamics and its needs. We hold hands with them to ensure that they develop the right business arrangements with the local operators, the DMCs and the hotels, to ensure that these packages are well developed and are meeting the price points of all travellers."

Saudi Arabia's tourism industry continues to develop its offerings, and partnerships with key trade partners such as those signed in Singapore will play a crucial role in ensuring its success.

These partnerships signify Saudi Arabia's commitment to the travel trade and the wider tourism industry in Singapore, enabling greater collaboration, enhancing the quality of services, and promoting Saudi Arabia as a destination of choice for travellers from Singapore and beyond.