Saudi Arabia, Oman contemplate joint vacationer visa

The Saudi-Oman tasks purpose to attract overseas vacationers, residents of each nations and residents within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations via the launch of a unified vacationer visa, seasonal flights and a joint tourism calendar, in response to the Saudi information company SPA.

One other joint initiative focuses on boosting funding cooperation, primarily in tourism, supporting entrepreneurs within the sector and coaching tourism human assets underneath a method accredited by the GCC leaders final December.

Al Mahrooqi stated Oman and Saudi Arabia are main vacationer locations within the area, citing their pure and cultural range, the Omani information company ONA reported.

Practically 164,000 vacationers from Oman visited Saudi Arabia within the first quarter of this yr, up 136 per cent towards the identical interval final yr, spending round SR310 million, a rise of 71 per cent, stated SPA.

In the meantime, practically 49,000 vacationers from Saudi Arabia visited Oman within the first quarter of 2023, up 92 per cent towards the corresponding interval of final yr, with a rise of 117 per cent in spending.

Saudi Arabia and Oman are two members of the six-nation GCC that additionally contains the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar.

In July 2021, Sultan Haitham bin Tariq of Oman made the primary go to by an Omani chief to the dominion in over a decade. In the course of the go to, the 2 nations signed a pact, establishing a joint council to coordinate stances in all fields.

The go to marked Sultan Haitham’s first overseas journey since he assumed energy in January 2020.

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman visited Oman in December 2021.