Saudi Arabia and China are looking forward to reaching a visa-free travel agreement.
Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Tourism, Ahmed Al-Khateeb, said that his country and China could do more in order to allow a visa-free travel process for nationals of both territories, VisaGuide.World reports.
The decision would bring significant financial contribution to both territories, especially to the tourism industry, as one of the main contributors to economic growth.
Al Khateeb’s comments came in an interview during his visit to China. Saudi Arabia’s Tourism Minister called on the governments of the two countries to discuss how to enable a free travel process between both territories.
Saudi Arabia Targets Chinese Travelers
Referring to China as “a huge market”, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Tourism recently said his country aims to attract a larger number of Chinese tourists that would further boost the tourism industry.
Last year, about 120 million Chinese traveled, and this year that number is expected to reach 140 million. Next year, they are forecasting a record 150 million.
The Minister said his country had found an opportunity to bring in 20-25 percent of tourists from China who take mid-to-long haul flights often to Europe and the Middle East, emphasizing that Saudi Arabia wants to capture part of this big traffic.
We hosted a Saudi festival there, and thousands of people visited to learn about our culture. We share values like family, and they travel for culture and heritage, which we have a lot to offer.
In addition, the Minister said that Saudi Arabia is attempting to find new ways to incorporate technology, especially in airports, to further enhance the travel experience.
We want to digitalize the unnecessary, like the hassle of airports, while preserving the necessary human connections that are core to tourism.
Over 100 Million Tourists in 2023
More than 100 million tourists visited Saudi Arabia in 2023, according to figures from the Saudi Tourism Authority.
These statistics show that a more than 56 per cent increase was marked in the Kingdom compared to the figures registered in 2019.
The figures from the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) revealed that of the total, 77 million were domestic and 27 million international visitors. They brought more than US$67 billion into the economy of Saudi Arabia
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