Saudi Arabia and Oman have collaborated to introduce a joint tourist visa and implement cooperative measures to boost their tourism sectors. The meeting between Saudi Arabia’s Tourism Minister, Ahmad Al Khatib, and Oman’s Salem Al Mahrooqi aimed to promote tourism in both countries.
The joint initiatives include the introduction of a unified tourist visa, the establishment of seasonal flights, and the creation of a joint tourism calendar. These efforts seek to attract foreign tourists, as well as citizens and residents of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. The objective is to enhance tourism and foster investment cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Oman.
In the first quarter of this year, the number of Omani tourists visiting Saudi Arabia increased by 136 percent compared to the same period last year, with approximately 164,000 visitors. Similarly, nearly 49,000 Saudi tourists traveled to Oman during this time, showing a growth rate of 92 percent.
The introduction of the unified visa follows discussions among GCC countries about implementing a visa system similar to the Schengen zone. This development was revealed during the Arabian Travel Market, where representatives from Bahrain, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia discussed the potential for unified efforts in promoting the Gulf as a tourism destination.
By working together and unifying their promotional efforts, the GCC countries believe they can significantly boost international visitation and capitalize on the vast opportunities available in the tourism sector.
