Hitting all 195 countries just became one step closer. For the first time, Saudi Arabia is opening its doors to tourist travelers. Historically, travel to Saudi Arabia was limited to those with business visas, pilgrims, and people visiting family members. The regulations have been loosened for passport holders of the United States, all the Schengen EU countries, Australia, Japan, South Korea, South Africa, Brunei, Malaysia, and Singapore.
Hitting all 195 countries just became one step closer. For the first time, Saudi Arabia is opening its doors to tourist travelers. Historically, travel to Saudi Arabia was limited to those with business visas, pilgrims, and people visiting family members. The regulations have been loosened for passport holders of the United States, all the Schengen EU countries, Australia, Japan, South Korea, South Africa, Brunei, Malaysia, and Singapore.
The head of Saudi tourism, Prince Sultan bin Salman stated that the goal was to target those who “want to literally experience this country” and its grandness. And grandness it has: the thirteenth-largest country in the world, the land of Mecca and Medina, and the territory with one of the youngest populations in the world (50% of the Saudi population is under 25 years old). Not to mention the food, the ubiquitous two-thousand-year old Saudi cuisine, and traditional dishes such as Kabsa, Fatir, and the Laban drink. Oh, and the Four Seasons opened there recently, which adds to the list of reasons to travel to this part of the world.
The kingdom is reportedly aiming to reach 30 million annual tourists by 2030, seeking to attract more tourists and expand its tourist industry.
But no attracting is necessary – we’re ready for Saudi.
