Saudi Arabia has announced that it has issued 23,715 tourist
visas until Monday from the time the Kingdom opened up her lands for foreign
tourists on Sept. 28, as reported by Saudi Gazette.
The Saudi Commission for Tourism and National
Heritage (SCTH) had announced the launch of the tourist visa on that day while
simultaneously marking the World Tourism Day.
According to the SCTH, tourist visas will be
issued on a one-year, multiple-entry basis, allowing tourists to spend up to 90
days in the country. They can get their visas manually via the Kingdom’s
missions and electronically without preconditions (e-visas) or upon arrival in
the Kingdom during the admissions process (visa on arrival) for 49
nationalities from Europe, Asia and America. More than
7,391 Chinese tourists have been issued visas to visit the Kingdom, according
to the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, allowing for the Chinese being the
nationality to obtain tourist visas the most. The figures
showed that tourist from Britain make up the next biggest numbers — 6159, while
tourists from the United States came third with 2,132 visas. The Canadians were
issued 1,612 despite a diplomatic dispute between the two countries.
Among the top ten countries completing the
growing demand for tourist visas are: Malaysia fifth with 1,107 visas, France
sixth with 744 visas, Germany 557 visas, Russia 484 visas, Australia 476 and
Kazakhstan 421 visas in that order.
The new tourist visa allows for those
wishing to visit the Kingdom to discover its landmarks any time throughout the
year. Among the most important features
of the Saudi tourist visa, is that the visa holder can benefit from it in
performing Umrah. In addition, a male relative need not accompany women,
except during the Haj season, and there is no need for a sponsor to visit the
Kingdom, as required for work visas.
Previously, the work visit and Haj visas were
the main non-immigrant visa options for travel to the Kingdom. The granting of
tourist visas comes within the Kingdom’s plan to create one million jobs and
reach 100 million tourists by the year 2030.
The new tourist visa program marks a significant
transformation for the Kingdom and is in line with Vision 2030, its flagship
initiative to diversify its economy and reduce its dependence on oil revenue.
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