Starting July 1, Saudi Arabia will implement easier entry rules for Chinese tourist groups under the Approved Destination Status agreement, aiming to boost tourism and economic growth.
The new regulations include streamlined visa processes, reduced costs, and a significant increase in flight capacity by over 130%, according to VisaGuide.World. Additionally, Chinese tourists will receive language support at Saudi airports, destinations, and tourist sites, and will have access to convenient payment methods like UnionPay.
The initiative targets attracting over five million Chinese tourists to Saudi Arabia by 2030. To facilitate this, Saudi authorities have increased daily flights between the two countries and introduced visa-on-arrival options for Chinese travelers.
The ADS status indicates Saudi Arabia’s readiness to welcome Chinese visitors and its goal to make China its third-largest tourism market by 2030. The Saudi Tourism Authority plays a key role in this, focusing on visa facilitation, fee reductions, improved air connectivity, and providing Mandarin-language information and services.
Strengthening ties with China through the ADS agreement is expected to drive economic development in both nations, according to Abdulrahman Ahmad Al Harbi, Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to China.
STA CEO Fahd Hamidaddin highlighted that Saudi Arabia’s approval as a tourist destination for Chinese visitors reflects ongoing efforts to engage in trade shows and conferences, leading to agreements with Chinese organizations.
In 2023, Saudi Arabia welcomed over 100 million tourists, with approximately 290,000 of them from China by April 2024—a 101% increase from the previous year, according to Jing Daily. The Saudi Tourism Authority reported that 2023 saw a 56% increase in tourist numbers compared to 2019, with nearly 77 million domestic travelers and 27 million international visitors, contributing over $67 billion to the economy.
The Tourism Authority regards these figures as a significant achievement.