Saudi tourism sees 50% rise in Indian visitors as promotions increase

NEW DELHI: Saudi Arabia’s tourism authority has reported a significant 50 percent increase in the number of Indian travelers visiting the kingdom, attributing it to a series of strategic initiatives implemented in 2023. This growth was highlighted as the kingdom participated in India’s main international travel show over the weekend, the South Asian Travel and Tourism Exchange, held in Noida in the Indian capital region from Feb. 22-24.

The Saudi Tourism Authority (STA) erected a substantial pavilion at the event, showcasing the kingdom’s ancient heritage sites and newly emerging tourist destinations. Alhasan Aldabbagh, STA president for Asia-Pacific markets, emphasized the importance of the event, stating, “This marks Saudi Tourism Authority’s third year participating in one of the most prominent tourism trade shows in South Asia.”

“SATTE has been successful as it gave us the opportunity to strengthen our partnerships, share insights and grow together with our trade partners with one unified goal, which is to bring Saudi to life and make its experiences and packages bookable,” Aldabbagh added.

The Saudi exhibition this year was larger than in previous editions, underscoring the increasing effectiveness of its promotional strategy in India. Aldabbagh noted, “We hosted over 1.5 million Indian inbound travelers in 2023, making a substantial 50 percent increase in visitation from 2022. This surge is attributed to strategic initiatives, including a successful partnership with the Indian Premier League, (and) enhanced air connectivity.”

Last February, the STA signed a partnership agreement with the IPL, becoming its official sponsor and tapping into a strong sports fan base in both countries. Furthermore, Saudi and Indian airlines have introduced new flights in 2023, directly connecting Indian cities to the kingdom, while immigration procedures have been streamlined with additional visa-processing centers.

“We opened 10 VFS Tasheel offices across India, with plans to expand into tier-two cities. We launched our first-ever free 96-hour stopover visa early last year in collaboration with SAUDIA and flynas, our national carriers,” Aldabbagh said, highlighting the ease of travel for Indians visiting the kingdom.

Indians are primarily drawn to Saudi Arabia’s growing cultural attractions, including archaeological sites and leisure infrastructure development. The top destinations include Madinah, Riyadh, Jeddah, and AlUla, one of the kingdom’s six UNESCO World Heritage sites.

“To offer Indian travelers a plethora of accommodation options and recreational activities tailored to their preferences, we have invested heavily in developing tourism infrastructure, including hotels, resorts, and entertainment facilities, to accommodate the growing number of visitors,” Aldabbagh emphasized.

Tourism is a thriving sector in Saudi Arabia under the Vision 2030 diversification plan, aiming to position the kingdom as a dynamic, diverse, year-round tourism destination contributing 10 percent of the gross domestic product by 2030. India has emerged as a key tourism source market, and the STA anticipates it to become the largest in the coming years.

“By 2030, India is anticipated to become the number one inbound market for Saudi, underlining the growing importance of Indian tourists,” Aldabbagh said. “Our aim is to welcome 7.5 million Indian visitors by 2030, aligning with our ambitious goals to enhance and diversify the tourism sector while fostering stronger connections between the two nations.”