Saudi Arabia has launched the pilot phase of the "Tourist Package Visa" service, allowing tourists to obtain a tourist visa as part of a complete travel package that can be booked through accredited travel and tourism service providers in designated experimental markets.
The Tourist Package Visa service enables tourists to book packages that combine various elements of the trip, including travel tickets, accommodation in licensed hospitality facilities, and arrangements for electronic visa issuance, with the option to add experiences, activities, and tourism events.
Tourism Minister Ahmed bin Aqeel Al-Khateeb confirmed that the "Tourist Package Visa" service represents a new step in enhancing the travel experience to the Kingdom, stating: "Through this service, we elevate the visitor’s journey to the Kingdom and make it a seamless and facilitated experience, allowing our partners in the travel and tourism sector to offer complete travel packages for new categories of tourists, supporting the well-planned growth of the sector." For tourists, the service aims to reduce the steps required for planning and booking trips; instead of managing travel bookings and visa procedures separately, qualifying tourists will be able to obtain a comprehensive package that includes travel tickets, accommodation in licensed hospitality facilities, and arranging for electronic visa issuance, all within a more cohesive and smooth journey.
For general category travel and tourism service providers, the service presents a significant opportunity to benefit from the increasing interest in visiting the Kingdom. By including visa issuance arrangements within the package, service providers can offer an easier experience for their clients, designing more integrated and attractive tourism programs, which encourages visitors to extend their trips and engage in more diverse tourism experiences.
To ensure quality of experience and enhance the confidence of visitors, the qualification of general category travel and tourism service providers during the pilot phase is subject to specific operational requirements, including readiness of digital platforms, providing technical support, and communication services with visitors around the clock.
As part of the ministry's initiatives that chart a forward-looking and innovative future for Saudi tourism, the "Tourist Package Visa" service reflects a wider transformation in the sector, focused on facilitating travel, enhancing partnerships with the private sector, providing more integrated tourism experiences, and opening broader horizons for the world to discover the Kingdom and its diverse destinations.
The new service comes as part of a series of programs and services launched by the Kingdom in recent years to facilitate tourist access and improve their experience, aligning with the targets of Saudi Vision 2030, including the electronic tourist visa, visa on arrival, transit visa, and other options that have contributed to enhancing the Kingdom's position as a leading tourist destination attracting visitors from around the world, with the Kingdom receiving over 29 million international tourists in 2025.
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