NEW DELHI: The number of Indians traveling to Saudi Arabia has risen by 50 percent following a series of strategic initiatives in 2023, the kingdom's tourism board said, as it participated in India's premier international travel expo over the weekend.
The 2024 edition of the South Asia Travel & Tourism Exchange – Asia's leading platform for the tourism and hospitality industry – was held in Noida in India's capital region from February 22 to 24.
The Saudi Tourism Authority established a huge pavilion in the place, to promote ancient heritage sites in the Kingdom and new tourist destinations.
“This is the third year of the Saudi Tourism Authority’s participation in one of the most prominent tourism trade shows in South Asia,” Al-Hassan Al-Dabbagh, STA’s head of Asia Pacific markets, told Arab News.
“SATTE has been a success because it has given us the opportunity to strengthen our partnerships, exchange ideas and grow together with our business partners with one unified goal, which is to bring Saudi Arabia to life and make its experiences and packages bookable.”
This year's Saudi exhibition was larger than previous editions of the exhibition, which also reflects the growing success of its promotional strategy in India.
“We hosted over 1.5 million Indian passengers in 2023, resulting in a significant 50 percent increase in visits since 2022. This increase is attributable to strategic initiatives, including the successful partnership with the Indian Premier League, (and) enhanced air connectivity.” “Dabbagh said,” he said.
Al Hassan Al Dabbagh, STA Head of Asia Pacific Markets, speaks at the South Asia Travel and Tourism Exchange on February 22, 2024. (SATTE)
In February last year, STA signed a partnership agreement with the IPL – the men's T20 franchise that is the most watched cricket league in the world – to become its title sponsor and tap into the strong sports fan base in both countries.
Saudi and Indian airlines have also added new flights in 2023, connecting Indian cities directly to the Kingdom, while immigration procedures have been simplified through additional visa processing centres.
“Last year, we opened 10 VFS Tasheel offices across India, with plans to expand into tier-II cities. We launched our first 96-hour free stopover visa early last year in collaboration with Saudia and Flynas, our national carriers,” Al Dabbagh said. , adding that Indians visiting the Kingdom is now “easier than ever.”
Indians have been mainly attracted by the growing number of cultural attractions, with archaeological works in full swing and the development of recreational infrastructure.
The top destinations currently are Medina, Riyadh, Jeddah and Al Ula, one of the six UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the Kingdom.
Al-Dabbagh said: “Saudi Arabia is working to enhance its rich cultural and historical heritage through major initiatives such as restoring and preserving heritage sites such as Al-Ula and Diriyah and developing cultural festivals and events.”
“To offer Indian travelers a wide range of accommodation options and leisure activities tailored to suit their preferences, we have invested heavily in developing tourism infrastructure, including hotels, resorts and leisure facilities, to accommodate the growing number of visitors.”
Tourism is a thriving sector in Saudi Arabia under the diversification plan of Vision 2030. A key part of the vision is to make the Kingdom a dynamic and diversified year-round tourism destination and market that will contribute 10 percent of the GDP by 2030.
In the last three years, India has emerged as a major source market for tourism, and the Tourism Board of India expects it to become its largest market in the next few years.
Al-Dabbagh said: “By 2030, India is expected to become the number one inbound market for Saudi Arabia, which underscores the growing importance of Indian tourists.”
“Our goal is to welcome 7.5 million Indian visitors by 2030, in line with our ambitious goals to strengthen and diversify the tourism sector while strengthening the strong ties between the two countries.”
