Saudi Arabia Tests Tourism Package Visa for Groups

Ahmed Al-Khatib, Saudi Arabia's tourism minister, launched a pilot phase for the Tourism Package Visa on Monday. The visa covers groups visiting multiple destinations within the kingdom through a single application.

Tour operators can arrange one approval for several cities or events. Travelers no longer need separate permits for each stop. The pilot targets organized tours, religious visits outside the Hajj season, and business delegations.

The program addresses a common complaint from tour companies about paperwork delays at each checkpoint. A single application should cut approval times from weeks to days.

Hotel and airline groups stand to gain if the pilot reduces friction. Saudi-based carriers and hotel operators have been adding capacity to secondary cities. The pilot covers a limited set of travel agencies and destinations.

Al-Khatib said the goal is to "enhance the visitor journey and facilitate movement between regions," without giving a timeline for a full rollout. His ministry said the pilot will run for six months before an evaluation.