RIYADH: Citizens of 49 countries, including Malaysians, can now visit Saudi Arabia as tourists as the Islamic kingdom officially launched its tourist visa for the the first time.
“Tonight, we make history. For the first time, we are opening our country to tourists from all over the world," said Chairman of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Heritage Prince Ahmad Al-Khateeb in his opening speech at the launch of the new tourism visa.
Held at Ad-Diriyah, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the capital, the event was attended by the who's who in global tourism industry, including Malaysian Tourism, Art and Culture Minister Datuk Mohammadin Ketapi and World Travel and Tourism Council president Gloria Guevara Manzo.
When met earlier before the event, Mohammadin said Ahmad informed him of the new visa and the kingdom's tourist attractions and holiday packages in a courtesy call made during a visit in St. Petersburg, Russia early this month.
"We expressed our support on the move and suggested the commission to carefully work out holiday packages that involve Muslim holy cities and non-Muslim tourists," he said.
Said to be one of the hardest countries to visit in the world, the conservative Islamic kingdom only offered its visas for business trips, Umrah and Haj and family visits.
Application for the tourist visa can be made at its embassies and consulates across the world, at the airports or online.
A dedicated online portal at visitsaudi.com has been launched and electronic kiosks are now available at airports.
The tourist visa allows for a stay of up to three months per entry, with visitors able to spend up to 90 days a year in the kingdom. Priced at RM476 (SAR440) plus tax, the visa is valid for one year with multiple entries.