Saudi Arabia has expanded its Package Visa pilot programme, adding a third travel platform and offering an integrated route combining flights, hotels and an electronic tourist visa for citizens of seven countries, Arabian Business reported on September 8.
The Package Visa service is available to passport holders from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Egypt, Jordan and Mexico, allowing them to obtain an electronic tourist visa as part of a single booking through approved travel providers rather than applying through the Kingdom’s standard tourist e-Visa route, according to Visit Saudi, the country’s official tourism platform.
Three platforms, Reserval, Almosafer and Webook, are now listed for the scheme, with the addition of Webook widening the choice of providers available to travellers since the pilot launched, Arabian Business reported.
Each Package Visa booking includes the electronic tourist visa itself, confirmed round-trip flights, confirmed accommodation and travel insurance, with optional tourism activities and experiences available on top, according to the Ministry of Tourism. Ahmed Al Khateeb, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Tourism, said the initiative reflects the pace of growth in the sector, cited by Arabian Business.
The Package Visa runs alongside Saudi Arabia’s existing standard e-Visa scheme, which is open to travellers from 66 eligible countries and provides a one-year, multiple-entry visa allowing stays of up to three months. The Ministry of Tourism said additional nationalities will be added to the Package Visa scheme as the programme expands, according to Arabian Business.