Saudi Announces Summer 2024 Tourism Plan With Visa Support, Free Family Tickets, Major Events and Tax-Free Shopping
Saudi Arabia has launched a summer tourism plan as it looks to lure international tourists during the season.
Perks and incentives to visit Saudi Arabia in the summer include enticing visas, free airline tickets for families, major events, and tax-free shopping.
In an event held under the patronage of the Minister of Tourism and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Tourism Authority (STA), Ahmed Al Khateeb, the STA launched the country’s summer program for 2024, “Saudi Summer is Next Door.”
The programme will run for four months until the end of September across seven destinations and includes over 550 tourism products and more than 150 special offers and packages curated for families and children across different segments such as adventure lovers, those seeking luxury retreats, and culture and heritage enthusiasts.
The Saudi Summer Program 2024 launch event was attended by World Tourism Organisation Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili, more than 250 key strategic partners from the public and private sectors, significant media, and key opinion leaders.
The summer program will take place in seven destinations:
- Aseer
- Al Baha
- Taif
- Red Sea
- Jeddah
- Riyadh
- AlUla
This year, the program will also see the return of the Jeddah Season and the launch of the Aseer Season, featuring numerous family activities and events.
Saudi Arabia has a lineup of major events as part of the summer program, notably the Esports World Cup in Riyadh, being held for the first time, an annual eight-week competition featuring the world’s most elite esports athletes, and multiple boxing tournaments in Riyadh and Jeddah.
The campaign slogan “Saudi Summer is Next Door” embodies an open invitation to explore the magic of Saudi destinations and their diversity.
This diversity is expressed with simple words that reflect the uniqueness of each destination, such as “Closer,” “Cooler,” “More Beautiful,” and “More Affordable.”
The private sector is a key partner in the success of tourism programs and initiatives, and the Saudi Tourism Authority is keen to empower it by encouraging demand for products and offers that meet the aspirations of tourists from all over the world.
The launch of the Saudi Summer Program 2024 comes at a time when visiting the Kingdom has become easier, smoother, and safer through efforts like making the eVisa available to citizens of 66 countries, reducing the total price of the eVisa by 20 per cent, and increasing the number of weekly flights from Gulf cities to KSA summer destinations to 1,100.
GCC residents can take advantage of the GCC residents visa, which allows them multiple entries and a stay of up to 90 days in the Kingdom during a year.
Additionally, there has been an increase in the number of hotel rooms available to travellers, with an additional 25,000 rooms expected to be added this year.
