The new service bundles visa processing with flights and accommodation, aiming to make travel to the Kingdom easier while creating new opportunities for licensed tour operators.

Why You Should Care

Saudi Arabia is testing a new visa model that combines tourist visa processing with complete travel packages, reducing friction for international visitors and supporting the Kingdom’s push to grow inbound tourism under Vision 2030. The initiative also gives licensed travel companies a new way to package and market Saudi travel experiences as visitor demand continues to rise.

The Details

Saudi Arabia has launched the pilot phase of its Tourism Package Visa. This will allow eligible travelers to obtain a tourist visa as part of an integrated travel package. It will be booked through approved General Category travel and tourism service providers in selected pilot markets.

Under the new service, eligible visitors can purchase travel packages that combine airline tickets, licensed accommodation, and electronic visa issuance. It will also have an option to add tourism experiences, activities, and events.

For travelers, the program reduces the need to arrange visas and travel separately by offering a single package that includes the key elements of a trip. For licensed travel providers, incorporating visa processing into their offerings creates opportunities to design more comprehensive itineraries that encourage visitors to stay longer and explore more destinations across the Kingdom.

During the pilot phase, participating travel providers must meet operational requirements. This includes digital platform readiness, technical support capabilities, and 24-hour customer service, to help ensure service quality and build visitor confidence.

The Ripple

The Tourism Package Visa expands Saudi Arabia’s growing portfolio of visitor entry options, complementing existing initiatives such as the electronic tourist visa, visa on arrival, and transit visa. Together, these programs form part of the Kingdom’s broader strategy to improve accessibility, strengthen partnerships with the private sector, and position Saudi Arabia as a more competitive global tourism destination.

The initiative also reinforces the government’s shift toward integrating digital services across the visitor journey, allowing tourism operators to offer more seamless end-to-end travel experiences.

What to Watch

The pilot phase will determine how widely the Tourism Package Visa is rolled out and which additional source markets become eligible. If adopted at scale, the service could become another tool supporting Saudi Arabia’s long-term tourism targets by simplifying travel planning and encouraging higher visitor spending through packaged experiences.

According to the Ministry of Tourism, Saudi Arabia welcomed more than 29 million inbound international tourists in 2025, highlighting the continued expansion of the Kingdom’s tourism sector as it works toward its Vision 2030 objectives.