SAUDI Arabia is opening its
doors to tourists with the
launch of online tourist visas
and the easing of some travel
restrictions.
The kingdom launched its
new Saudi eVisa for visitors
on September 27, World
Tourism Day. This is the first
time that Saudi Arabia has
allowed foreign visitors to
enter the nation with a tourist
visa.
South Africa is one of the
eligible countries. Others
are the US, EU, Australia,
Japan, South Korea, Brunei,
Malaysia, Singapore, and
Taiwan. “It is likely that more
countries will be added,” says
a statement on the country’s
visa application website, Saudi
Arabia Visas. “The new visa
opens the possibility of a
tourist economy in the Middle
Eastern Kingdom. Officials
have indicated that they wish
to welcome as many as 30
million visitors to the country
per year by 2030.”
An eVisa takes a few
minutes to complete online
and will be emailed to the
traveller once approved.
Tourists can apply through the
e-visa portal (https://visa.
visitsaudi.com) ahead of their
trip, or upon arrival in Saudi
Arabia through visa kiosks at
immigration.
The fee for all visitor visas
– e-visa, visa on arrival and
Consulate visa – is SAR 440
(R1 784), which includes the
base fee of SAR300 (R1 218)
and health insurance SAR140
(R 567). VAT and payment
processing are extra. Visas
are reportedly valid for 360
days from the date of issue
for stays of 90 days or less,
and for a total of no more
than 180 days in a single year.
Some restrictions may affect
an application, such as Israeli
stamps in the passport.
Visitors of other faiths will not
be able to visit the Islamic
holy cities Mecca or Medina
and women aged under 30
will have to be accompanied
by a guardian. The strict dress
code has reportedly been
eased for foreign women
but they are still expected to
wear modest clothing. Men
and women no longer have
to prove that they are related
before being allowed to share
a hotel room.
The travel trade is excited
about the doors that could
now open for SA travellers.
May Ahmed, head of Umrah
Department at One Stop Travel
& Tours says: “We as agents
have to create a demand.
Saudi Arabia has year-round
sunshine, incredible beaches,
ancient historic sites, theme
parks and luxury hotels. It
could become a popular
tourist destination in the
region.”
Three Aman resorts are
being built and are planned
to open by 2023, and major
redevelopments are being
made to the country’s Red
Sea coastline to encourage
more beachgoers.
