saudi arabia to launch tourist visas
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today
Arab Today, arab today
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today

in early 2018

Saudi Arabia to launch tourist visas

Arab Today, arab today

Arab Today, arab today Saudi Arabia to launch tourist visas

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Jeddah - Arab Today

Saudi Arabia will begin issuing tourist visas in the first quarter of 2018, its top tourism official said, a first for the kingdom as it undergoes major economic and social reforms.

Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz told AFP that "all government approvals" are in place for the launch of electronic visas next year to "all nationals whose countries allow their citizens to visit" Saudi Arabia.

"We are now just preparing the regulations -- who is eligible for the visas and how to obtain them," added the head of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage, who is a son of King Salman.

The move to open up its tourism sector is a major shift for Saudi Arabia as powerful Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman seeks to radically overhaul the kingdom's oil-dependent economy and shed its ultra-conservative image.

Apart from the millions of Muslims who travel to Saudi Arabia annually for the Hajj pilgrimage, most visitors face an arduous process and steep fees to enter the kingdom.

Saudi Arabia currently grants tourist visas for a limited number of countries, but even those applications involve a range of restrictions, including requirements to travel through an accredited company and stay at designated hotels.

Prince Sultan said the cost of the new tourist visa had not yet been settled, but stressed that it would be "as low as possible, because we believe the cumulative economic impact is greater than the cash from the visa".

Saudi Arabia, though richly endowed with natural beauty, is notorious worldwide for its longstanding bans on the mixing of the sexes, alcohol consumption and women driving -- making it an undesirable destination for many.

In recent months, the kingdom has broken with some of its most rigid rules -- lifting a cinema ban, allowing genders to mix at a national celebration and announcing that women will be allowed to drive next June.

Prince Mohammed in August announced a massive tourism project to turn 50 islands and a string of sites on the Red Sea into luxury resorts.

Source: AFP

arabstoday
arabstoday

GMT 08:38 2017 Saturday ,25 November

Saudis clear passenger flights

GMT 09:57 2017 Saturday ,23 September

Saudi witnessing a remarkable growth

GMT 10:04 2017 Tuesday ,01 August

Saudi Arabia to launch tourism resorts

GMT 06:51 2016 Saturday ,28 May

Iran ends hajj talks in Saudi
Arab Today, arab today

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

saudi arabia to launch tourist visas saudi arabia to launch tourist visas

 



Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

saudi arabia to launch tourist visas saudi arabia to launch tourist visas

 



GMT 20:53 2018 Monday ,22 October

PM Imran Khan to leave for Saudi Arabia today

GMT 08:20 2018 Tuesday ,16 January

Lamborghini races to new sales record

GMT 00:19 2017 Wednesday ,13 December

Switzerland chainsaw attack: 5 hurt in Schaffhausen

GMT 09:51 2017 Tuesday ,07 November

Broadcom makes $130 bn mega-bid

GMT 20:53 2017 Tuesday ,07 March

Syrian forces retake Aleppo water-pumping station

GMT 11:15 2017 Monday ,01 May

Hanan Metawe reveals details of her accident

GMT 03:07 2017 Monday ,27 March

Bulgaria's Borisov bounces back again

GMT 22:18 2017 Thursday ,16 November

Hariri to arrive in France Saturday to meet Macron

GMT 06:43 2017 Monday ,13 February

Pakistan retaliates after US denies politician visa

GMT 07:49 2017 Tuesday ,28 November

Hussein Fahmy underlines financial sources
Arab Today, arab today
 
 Arab Today Facebook,arab today facebook  Arab Today Twitter,arab today twitter Arab Today Rss,arab today rss  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2025 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2025 ©

arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
arabstoday, Arabstoday, Arabstoday