Saudi Arabia has launched Package Visa, a digital initiative that integrates tourist visa applications directly into travel bookings, the Saudi Tourism Authority announced on July 7.
The scheme is being introduced through qualified travel and tourism service providers across selected international markets ahead of a wider rollout, as the kingdom pushes to convert booming visitor numbers into longer, higher-value stays.
The initiative builds on earlier moves to ease access, including the tourist e-Visa, visa on arrival and the Stopover Transit Visa. Together these have supported rapid growth in the sector, with Saudi Arabia welcoming more than 29mn inbound visitors in 2025.
Under Package Visa, eligible travellers can book flights, accommodation and a visa through a single integrated process, with the option to add events, activities and tourism experiences, rather than arranging each element separately.
The scheme is available only through qualified providers that meet defined service standards and offer round-the-clock customer support, according to the authority.
“By integrating visa issuance with travel bookings, we are simplifying the visitor journey and creating a more connected travel experience,” said Ahmed Al Khateeb, Saudi minister of tourism. “This initiative also strengthens collaboration across the tourism ecosystem and supports Saudi’s position as an increasingly accessible global destination.”
The Saudi Tourism Authority, launched in June 2020, markets the kingdom’s destinations worldwide and operates 16 representative offices serving 38 countries.
Why it matters for the trade
Saudi’s Package Visa is a pointed bet on the trade channel at a moment when much of the visa conversation has centred on direct-to-consumer digital access. By making the integrated visa available only through qualified travel and tourism service providers, Riyadh is handing accredited agents and operators a tangible reason to sell Saudi product: the visa becomes a value-add they control rather than a hurdle the traveller clears alone.
For operators, that means the ability to bundle flights, accommodation, events and experiences into a single sale, with the incentive structure tilted towards longer itineraries and richer packaging rather than short city breaks. The requirement for defined service standards and 24/7 support suggests the authority is curating its distribution rather than opening the floodgates, which will reward established players positioned to meet the criteria.
For the wider market, the move signals that Saudi Arabia intends to grow the 29mn figure through structured, experience-led travel rather than transit and volume alone, and agents who secure qualified status early stand to benefit from being among the first able to offer the seamless booking-to-arrival journey the scheme promises.