Saudi Tourism Enters the Era of Integrated Packages

''Al-Eqtisadiah from Riyadh''

Wednesday, July 15, 2026 20:10 | 1 minute read

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Saudi Arabia is moving to simplify the travel experience by launching an integrated tourism package visa, a step aimed at easing procedures for visiting the Kingdom and boosting the growth of the tourism sector. The new system allows tourists to obtain the visa as part of an integrated package that includes air tickets, accommodation, and tourism programs and activities, through licensed travel companies, instead of arranging each service separately.

The initiative is scheduled to be implemented during a trial phase, and will be subject to evaluation and development before being fully adopted, thereby contributing to a smoother experience and directly connecting the tourist with various components of the tourism sector.

The step comes amid the rapid growth witnessed by the sector, as the number of tourism establishments in Saudi Arabia rose to 177,000 establishments in the first quarter of 2026, an increase of 9 percent year-on-year, while the number of licensed hospitality facilities exceeded 6,100, including about 3,000 hotels.

Spending indicators also reflect this momentum, as foreign tourist spending reached 44.3 billion riyals during the first quarter of 2026, while Saudi Arabia accounted for 46 percent of total tourism spending in the Middle East in 2025. At the same time, AlUla emerged as one of the most prominent tourist destinations, after visitor spending there jumped by more than 300 percent between 2021 and 2025 to reach 2.45 billion riyals, underscoring the importance of the integrated tourism package visa in supporting the sector's sustainable growth and attracting more visitors.

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