In an effort to attract more tourists and stimulate the economy, Saudi Arabia has announced that it will begin accepting electronic tourist visas (e-visas) from citizens of eight additional nations.
It is now possible to apply for an e-visa online if you are a citizen of Azerbaijan, Albania, Uzbekistan, South Africa, Georgia, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, or the Maldives. Since the program’s 2019 debut, Saudi Arabia has expanded the number of nations eligible to apply for an e-visa to 57 from the original 49.
Tourists can visit Saudi Arabia
Tourists will be able to move freely around Saudi Arabia and participate in the Umrah with this visa. Tourists will not be able to conduct Hajj or Umrah during the Hajj season, however, and this has been emphasized by the authorities who issue the visas.
Travelers are also urged to always have proper identification on them as required by local law. These alterations are part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 plan, which aims to double the existing contribution of tourism to the economy by 2020.
By 2030, the initiative hopes to have attracted 100 million tourists and produced one million new employment. It was declared earlier this year that any citizen of a Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) country is eligible to apply for a Saudi tourist visa.
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