Saudi Arabia Elevates Tourism Goals with India in Focus
05-04-24
In a strategic move to boost international tourism, Saudi Arabia is streamlining its visa procedures for Indian nationals, introducing convenient options like e-visa and visa-on-arrival facilities. This initiative has already borne fruit, as the kingdom witnessed an impressive 50% surge in Indian tourists in 2023. Motivated by this success, Saudi Arabia is ambitiously targeting 7.5 million Indian visitors within the next seven years, aiming to position India as its foremost source market.
The Saudi Tourism Authority (STA) is actively engaging with the Indian market through a series of networking events across key Indian cities, including Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, and Delhi, collaborating closely with travel trade associations to foster tourism growth.
In 2023, the kingdom enjoyed a remarkable increase in Indian tourist arrivals, with 1.5 million visitors marking a significant uptick from the previous year. Enhanced air connectivity has played a pivotal role, with a 31% increase in flights between the two countries from 2019 to 2023, now connecting 12 major Indian cities with Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam.
To further bolster tourism, the STA has inked several partnerships with tour operators, travel trade associations, and event planners, underscoring the kingdom's commitment to making travel for Indian tourists as seamless as possible.