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Saudi Arabia plans to change its visa regulations in a bid to double the number of tourists over the next decade and make the kingdom tourism-friendly.
The move followed the Kingdom's Vision 2030 programme aiming to reduce dependency on oil revenues.
Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTH) said the authorities already reviewed the tourist visa regulations and submitted to the government for approval, reports bdnews24.com quoting Arab News.
In a statement, the SCTH said the regulations were reviewed in a series of meetings and workshops held with relevant government institutions, with inputs from investors, tourism and transport professionals and service providers.
Additionally, Saudi authorities have developed an integrated electronic system to process and record visa transactions, under the supervision of a team headed by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology.
“The kingdom, as the cradle of Islam, possesses an unparalleled cultural heritage, and is growing a tourism industry rich in natural, cultural and purely touristic destinations,” SCTH President Prince Sultan bin Salman had previously said.
“On top of that, the Saudi people have a long tradition of showing great generosity, hospitality and warn welcomes to people from around the world.”
He said the kingdom had affirmed its commitment to local values and culture — the most important attractions -- as it strives to attract tourists.
According to CNN, the new tourism initiatives are a key factor in Saudi Arabia’s plan to reduce its reliance on the oil industry.