Saudi Tourism, Visa data lab to enhance visitor journey

07-05-23

Saudi Tourism Authority (STA) and Visa have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to will enhance the visitor journey and promote Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector at the recent Arabian Travel Market 2023.

As part of the MoU, Visa and STA will explore establishing a Tourism Data Lab that will provide data-driven insights into travel and tourism trends, enabling Saudi Tourism Authority, Visa and industry stakeholders to make informed decisions which support the Saudi government’s tourism ambitions, said Walter Lironi, Senior Vice President and Head of Visa Consulting and Analytics for Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa (CEMEA), in an interview.

Through this MoU, Visa and STA will also aim to launch Visa’s digital payment solutions and exclusive tailored packages for Visa cardholders and tourists within the Middle East and Africa markets to visit Saudi Arabia. Packages for hassle-free payments and value deals will be discussed and finalised through consultation with relevant authorities, he said.