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.