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What is the story about?
Planning an international trip often begins with excitement, until the paperwork creeps in! Saudi wants to change that. With the launch of Package Visa, the country is removing one of travel's biggest pain points by integrating tourist visa applications directly into travel bookings, creating a more seamless journey from the moment one decides to visit.
Announced in Riyadh on 6 July 2026, the fully digital initiative is currently being introduced through qualified travel and tourism service providers across selected international markets, ahead of a broader rollout. Eligible travellers can obtain an instant electronic tourist visa by purchasing an integrated travel package through approved travel providers. Packages include confirmed return flights, accommodation and the visa application, with travellers also able to add experiences and activities as part of their itinerary.
The Bigger Picture
Package Visa was developed through collaboration between the Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Interior and the Insurance Authority, reflecting a coordinated effort to simplify travel to Saudi.
The initiative forms part of Saudi’s Vision 2030, under which tourism has become a key pillar of economic diversification. Alongside investment in aviation, hospitality and destination development, Saudi has introduced a series of measures to simplify the visitor journey. Package Visa is the latest, integrating tourist visa applications directly into travel bookings.
A story of Ambition and Progress
Since launching the tourist e-Visa, Saudi has expanded entry options to include visa on arrival and the Stopover Transit Visa. Today the e-Visa program covers 66 countries. Together, these measures have helped fuel extraordinary growth. Saudi welcomed more than 29 million inbound visitors in 2025 alone!
Zoom out further, and the momentum becomes even clearer. Saudi’s licensed tourism hospitality facilities rose 22.7% year-on-year to 6,122 in the first quarter of 2026, split between 2,963 hotels and 3,159 serviced apartments and other accommodation types.
Tourism employment grew alongside it, climbing 6.5% year-on-year to approximately 1,047,313 people, while hotel guests stayed an average of 4.2 nights during the quarter, up 2% from a year earlier. These figures come as the nation continues tracking toward its Vision 2030 target of 150 million annual visitors, having already surpassed its original 100-million goal years ahead of schedule.
Of that revised target, the country is aiming for 70 million international visitors and 80 million domestic tourists by 2030. Tourism's total contribution to GDP climbed to approximately SAR 318 billion, accounting for 7.1% of GDP in 2025, compared with 5.8% in 2024.
Commenting on the initiative, His Excellency Ahmed Al Khateeb, Saudi Minister of Tourism, said: "As Saudi's tourism sector continues to grow at pace, Package Visa reflects our commitment to making travel to Saudi more seamless for visitors. By integrating visa issuance with travel bookings, we are simplifying the visitor journey and creating a more connected travel experience. This initiative also strengthens collaboration across the tourism ecosystem and supports Saudi's position as an increasingly accessible global destination."
Al Khateeb recently described Saudi’s tourism story as one of "ambition, openness, and continuous progress," and called Package Visa a way of "empowering our travel and tourism partners, simplifying the journey for visitors, and creating a smarter, more seamless way to experience Saudi."
The Ripple Effect
For travellers, Package Visa simplifies the journey by combining travel bookings and visa applications into one process, reducing the steps between planning a trip and arriving in Saudi. Notably, the initiative eliminates the need for eligible travellers to visit a Saudi embassy or submit a separate visa application altogether.
For qualified travel and tourism service providers, the initiative creates opportunities to offer more attractive travel packages, streamline the traveller journey, and encourage longer stays and richer experiences. The initiative is designed to encourage qualitative visitor experiences and increased tourism spending by making travel arrangements easier.
To help ensure a smooth and reliable experience, Package Visa is available only through qualified providers that meet defined service standards and offer 24/7 customer support. Approved providers must demonstrate strong digital capabilities, efficient booking systems, and customer support infrastructure.
Making Room for More
Package Visa arrives as Saudi continues to expand the infrastructure supporting its tourism ambitions. Alongside major investments in aviation, including the development of King Salman International Airport, connectivity continues to grow through Riyadh Air, which has recently launched services to London and is set to begin daily flights between Riyadh and Mumbai from August 2026. The airline is also expanding its network across Europe, the Middle East and South Asia, strengthening access to the Saudi capital.
The country's tourism offering is evolving alongside that growth. Recent openings such as Four Seasons Resort and Residences Red Sea, Miraval The Red Sea and Rixos Murjana have expanded Saudi's luxury hospitality portfolio, while destinations including Diriyah, Qiddiya City and King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) continue to broaden the country's appeal for leisure, business and cultural travellers.
Saudi is also preparing to host a series of major international events in the coming years, including the 2029 Asian Winter Games, the 2034 FIFA World Cup and the United Nations Tourism General Assembly, reinforcing its ambitions as a year-round destination.
Taken together, this infrastructure and events pipeline is what allows an initiative like Package Visa to scale. A seamless visa process only delivers on its promise if flights, hotels, and destinations can keep pace with demand.
Meeting Travellers Where They Are
As Saudi’s tourism sector continues its rapid ascent, Package Visa stands not just as a new digital tool, but a strong statement of intent. It signals a country that is actively listening to what today's travellers want and acknowledging their need for simplicity, speed, and confidence in the journey ahead. In removing the friction between curiosity and arrival, Saudi isn't just inviting the world to visit. It is making sure that when people decide to come, nothing stands in their way.
Learn more at: https://www.visitsaudi.com/en/campaigns/package-visa
Announced in Riyadh on 6 July 2026, the fully digital initiative is currently being introduced through qualified travel and tourism service providers across selected international markets, ahead of a broader rollout. Eligible travellers can obtain an instant electronic tourist visa by purchasing an integrated travel package through approved travel providers. Packages include confirmed return flights, accommodation and the visa application, with travellers also able to add experiences and activities as part of their itinerary.
The Bigger Picture
Package Visa was developed through collaboration between the Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Interior and the Insurance Authority, reflecting a coordinated effort to simplify travel to Saudi.
The initiative forms part of Saudi’s Vision 2030, under which tourism has become a key pillar of economic diversification. Alongside investment in aviation, hospitality and destination development, Saudi has introduced a series of measures to simplify the visitor journey. Package Visa is the latest, integrating tourist visa applications directly into travel bookings.
A story of Ambition and Progress
Since launching the tourist e-Visa, Saudi has expanded entry options to include visa on arrival and the Stopover Transit Visa. Today the e-Visa program covers 66 countries. Together, these measures have helped fuel extraordinary growth. Saudi welcomed more than 29 million inbound visitors in 2025 alone!
Zoom out further, and the momentum becomes even clearer. Saudi’s licensed tourism hospitality facilities rose 22.7% year-on-year to 6,122 in the first quarter of 2026, split between 2,963 hotels and 3,159 serviced apartments and other accommodation types.
Tourism employment grew alongside it, climbing 6.5% year-on-year to approximately 1,047,313 people, while hotel guests stayed an average of 4.2 nights during the quarter, up 2% from a year earlier. These figures come as the nation continues tracking toward its Vision 2030 target of 150 million annual visitors, having already surpassed its original 100-million goal years ahead of schedule.
Of that revised target, the country is aiming for 70 million international visitors and 80 million domestic tourists by 2030. Tourism's total contribution to GDP climbed to approximately SAR 318 billion, accounting for 7.1% of GDP in 2025, compared with 5.8% in 2024.
Commenting on the initiative, His Excellency Ahmed Al Khateeb, Saudi Minister of Tourism, said: "As Saudi's tourism sector continues to grow at pace, Package Visa reflects our commitment to making travel to Saudi more seamless for visitors. By integrating visa issuance with travel bookings, we are simplifying the visitor journey and creating a more connected travel experience. This initiative also strengthens collaboration across the tourism ecosystem and supports Saudi's position as an increasingly accessible global destination."
Al Khateeb recently described Saudi’s tourism story as one of "ambition, openness, and continuous progress," and called Package Visa a way of "empowering our travel and tourism partners, simplifying the journey for visitors, and creating a smarter, more seamless way to experience Saudi."
The Ripple Effect
For travellers, Package Visa simplifies the journey by combining travel bookings and visa applications into one process, reducing the steps between planning a trip and arriving in Saudi. Notably, the initiative eliminates the need for eligible travellers to visit a Saudi embassy or submit a separate visa application altogether.
For qualified travel and tourism service providers, the initiative creates opportunities to offer more attractive travel packages, streamline the traveller journey, and encourage longer stays and richer experiences. The initiative is designed to encourage qualitative visitor experiences and increased tourism spending by making travel arrangements easier.
To help ensure a smooth and reliable experience, Package Visa is available only through qualified providers that meet defined service standards and offer 24/7 customer support. Approved providers must demonstrate strong digital capabilities, efficient booking systems, and customer support infrastructure.
Making Room for More
Package Visa arrives as Saudi continues to expand the infrastructure supporting its tourism ambitions. Alongside major investments in aviation, including the development of King Salman International Airport, connectivity continues to grow through Riyadh Air, which has recently launched services to London and is set to begin daily flights between Riyadh and Mumbai from August 2026. The airline is also expanding its network across Europe, the Middle East and South Asia, strengthening access to the Saudi capital.
The country's tourism offering is evolving alongside that growth. Recent openings such as Four Seasons Resort and Residences Red Sea, Miraval The Red Sea and Rixos Murjana have expanded Saudi's luxury hospitality portfolio, while destinations including Diriyah, Qiddiya City and King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) continue to broaden the country's appeal for leisure, business and cultural travellers.
Saudi is also preparing to host a series of major international events in the coming years, including the 2029 Asian Winter Games, the 2034 FIFA World Cup and the United Nations Tourism General Assembly, reinforcing its ambitions as a year-round destination.
Taken together, this infrastructure and events pipeline is what allows an initiative like Package Visa to scale. A seamless visa process only delivers on its promise if flights, hotels, and destinations can keep pace with demand.
Meeting Travellers Where They Are
As Saudi’s tourism sector continues its rapid ascent, Package Visa stands not just as a new digital tool, but a strong statement of intent. It signals a country that is actively listening to what today's travellers want and acknowledging their need for simplicity, speed, and confidence in the journey ahead. In removing the friction between curiosity and arrival, Saudi isn't just inviting the world to visit. It is making sure that when people decide to come, nothing stands in their way.
Learn more at: https://www.visitsaudi.com/en/campaigns/package-visa
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