Saudi Tourism Authority (STA) has unveiled a series of initiatives during its 2024 Malaysian Trade Roadshow held at the Westin Kuala Lumpur on the March 4, reinforcing the Kingdom’s commitment to Malaysian visitors.
The trade show saw the attendance of 18 Saudi stakeholders including DMCs, hotels, transportation partners and travel agents.
This marks a significant milestone in Saudi’s commitment to welcoming global visitors, aligning with Saudi’s Vision 2030, which envisions welcoming 150 million annual visits by the end of the decade. Notably, Saudi has been recognised by UNWTO and WTTC as the fastest large growing destination with international arrivals having increased by 156 per cent compared to 2019.
Malaysia is among the 63 countries eligible for Saudi Arabia’s e-Visa programme, making it easier for Malaysian travellers to visit the destination. Malaysian passport holders having the UK, Schengen or the US visit visas are also eligible for e-visa and visa on arrival.
In addition, the recently launched 96-hour Stopover Visa grants visitors travelling with SAUDI and Flynas the opportunity to spend up to 96 hours in Saudi continuing their onward journeys, making Saudi the perfect stopover destination for Malaysian travellers.
Moreover, Saudi’s airline capacity has increased in the past year alone to over 700,000 seats across three main carriers – Air Asia X, Malaysia Airlines, and SAUDIA – with plans to further increase frequency to cater to the growing demand.
During the roadshow, STA announced the unveiling of enhanced Umrah+ packages tailored specifically for Malaysian pilgrims. Accessible through the Nusuk platform, these packages simplify e-visa application processes and present curated experiences, inviting Malaysians to explore Saudi’s rich culture, historical treasures, diverse landscape, and exclusive events and festivals, such as AlUla Skies Festival, and Winter at Tantora.
