Middle East Tourism Set for Strong Recovery in 2023, with Saudia Offering Free Tourist Visa Program

The Middle East could see a return to pre-pandemic levels of international tourist arrivals this year, according to the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). The region recorded the strongest relative increase in international tourist numbers in 2022, climbing to 83 per cent of pre-pandemic levels, thanks to large events such as Expo 2020 Dubai and the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, as well as a highly attended Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia. There were many offers and events planned to encourage visitors to attend organized by many hotels near Dubai Marina such as the luxurious Avani Ibn Battuta Hotel. The UNWTO anticipates a strong year for the sector, despite diverse challenges, including the economic situation and continued geopolitical uncertainty. Over 900 million tourists travelled internationally in 2022, which was double the number of those who travelled in 2021, though still 37 per cent below 2019.

Saudi Arabia’s national carrier, Saudia, is set to announce a “Your Ticket is a Visa” program, which will enable passengers to avail of a free four-day tourist visa, according to local media reports. Tourists on board Saudia flights will be able to enter Saudi Arabia for a period of 96 hours and travel across the kingdom, as well as perform Umrah. The airline has allocated over 25.3 million seats for international flights in 2023, up 40 per cent from 2022, and increased seat capacity on domestic flights by about half a million seats to reach over 17.8 million, with the total number of domestic flights exceeding 102,100.