Saudi Arabia Works with Several Countries on a Unified Protocol to Facilitate Travel

A Saudi official stated that the Kingdom intends to resume tourist visas very soon, after suspending their issuance for several months due to the coronavirus. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss unannounced plans, mentioned that the Kingdom is also collaborating with other countries in the Middle East and Europe on a unified protocol to facilitate travel. Encouraging outbound tourism is a key factor in the Kingdom's efforts to reduce its dependence on oil. In September 2019, Saudi Arabia opened its borders, having long been one of the most difficult countries in the world to visit unless for Hajj or Umrah. Saudi Arabia aims to increase the tourism sector's contribution to 10% of GDP by 2030, but the virus hindered those plans by limiting inbound tourism, as Saudi authorities suspended all incoming and outgoing travel in February 2020 in an effort to contain the virus's spread.