Riyadh, 21 Muharram 1448 AH, corresponding to 06 July 2026, SPA – The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has launched the pilot phase of the "Tourist Package Visa" service, which allows tourists to obtain a tourist visa as part of an integrated travel package booked through licensed general category travel and tourism service providers in selected pilot markets. The "Tourist Package Visa" service is the result of collaborative efforts between the Ministry of Tourism, the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Interior, in cooperation with the Insurance Authority. This service enables tourists to book packages combining various trip elements, including air tickets, accommodation in licensed tourist hospitality facilities, and electronic visa issuance arrangements, with the option to add tourism experiences, activities, and events. His Excellency Minister of Tourism, Mr. Ahmed bin Aqeel Al-Khatib, affirmed that the "Tourist Package Visa" service represents a new step in improving the travel experience to the Kingdom, stating: "Through this service, we elevate the visitor's journey to the Kingdom, making it a smooth and easy experience. We also enable our partners in the travel and tourism sector to offer integrated travel packages to new categories of tourists, supporting the planned growth of the sector." For tourists, the service aims to reduce the steps required for trip planning and booking. Instead of managing travel bookings and visa procedures separately, eligible tourists can obtain an integrated package including air tickets, accommodation in licensed tourist hospitality facilities, and electronic visa issuance arrangements, creating a more cohesive and seamless journey. For general category travel and tourism service providers, the service offers a significant opportunity to benefit from the increasing demand to visit the Kingdom. By including visa arrangement services within the package, providers can offer an easier experience for their customers and design more integrated and attractive tourism programs, encouraging visitors to extend their stay and engage in more diverse tourism experiences. To ensure quality and enhance visitor confidence, the qualification of general category travel and tourism service providers in the pilot phase is subject to specific operational requirements, including the readiness of digital platforms and the provision of technical support and round-the-clock visitor communication services. Within the framework of the ministry's initiatives shaping an innovative future for Saudi tourism, the "Tourist Package Visa" service reflects a broader transformation in the sector based on facilitating travel, strengthening partnership with the private sector, offering more integrated tourism experiences, and opening wider 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, in line with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030. These include the electronic tourist visa, visa on arrival, transit visa, and other options that have contributed to enhancing the Kingdom's status as a leading tourist destination attracting tourists from around the world. In 2025, the Kingdom received over 29 million inbound tourists from abroad. // End //17:52 T M 0127

Riyadh, 21 Muharram 1448 AH, corresponding to 06 July 2026, SPA – The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has launched the pilot phase of the "Tourist Package Visa" service, which allows tourists to obtain a tourist visa as part of an integrated travel package booked through licensed general category travel and tourism service providers in selected pilot markets. The "Tourist Package Visa" service is the result of collaborative efforts between the Ministry of Tourism, the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Interior, in cooperation with the Insurance Authority. This service enables tourists to book packages combining various trip elements, including air tickets, accommodation in licensed tourist hospitality facilities, and electronic visa issuance arrangements, with the option to add tourism experiences, activities, and events. His Excellency Minister of Tourism, Mr. Ahmed bin Aqeel Al-Khatib, affirmed that the "Tourist Package Visa" service represents a new step in improving the travel experience to the Kingdom, stating: "Through this service, we elevate the visitor's journey to the Kingdom, making it a smooth and easy experience. We also enable our partners in the travel and tourism sector to offer integrated travel packages to new categories of tourists, supporting the planned growth of the sector." For tourists, the service aims to reduce the steps required for trip planning and booking. Instead of managing travel bookings and visa procedures separately, eligible tourists can obtain an integrated package including air tickets, accommodation in licensed tourist hospitality facilities, and electronic visa issuance arrangements, creating a more cohesive and seamless journey. For general category travel and tourism service providers, the service offers a significant opportunity to benefit from the increasing demand to visit the Kingdom. By including visa arrangement services within the package, providers can offer an easier experience for their customers and design more integrated and attractive tourism programs, encouraging visitors to extend their stay and engage in more diverse tourism experiences. To ensure quality and enhance visitor confidence, the qualification of general category travel and tourism service providers in the pilot phase is subject to specific operational requirements, including the readiness of digital platforms and the provision of technical support and round-the-clock visitor communication services. Within the framework of the ministry's initiatives shaping an innovative future for Saudi tourism, the "Tourist Package Visa" service reflects a broader transformation in the sector based on facilitating travel, strengthening partnership with the private sector, offering more integrated tourism experiences, and opening wider 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, in line with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030. These include the electronic tourist visa, visa on arrival, transit visa, and other options that have contributed to enhancing the Kingdom's status as a leading tourist destination attracting tourists from around the world. In 2025, the Kingdom received over 29 million inbound tourists from abroad. // End //17:52 T M 0127