The director of the Tourism and Heritage Authority in the Makkah region, Mohammed Al-Omari has said that, “citizens from all the countries who have access to the Kingdom can obtain tourist visas,” according to the latest reports.
He continued that all Muslims from countries around the world can obtain a post-Umrah tourist visa, so when Umrah is finished they can become a tourist.” This is called the extended Umrah visa for post-Umrah tourism. Everyone will benefit from these visas as long as the conditions apply to them.”
Umrah is a small and shorter version of Hajj and can be performed all year round. The visa will be given with 30 days validity.
Prince Sultan bin Salman, the chairman of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTH) said that the start of tourism visa issuance will be announced during the first quarter of 2018. The tourism visas will be for sixty five countries at the first phase of the project and will gradually see an increase in the number in the second phase. Saudi Arabia is aiming to solidify its place as a tourist destination with mega projects such as the Red Sea island resorts and the Neom project on the Gulf of Aqaba.
