CHINA, Following a momentous signing ceremony held in Beijing, attended by notable dignitaries including His Excellency Abdulrahman Ahmad Al-Harbi, Saudi Arabia's Ambassador to China, Fahd Hamidaddin, CEO of the Saudi Tourism Authority, and Du Jiang, Vice Minister of Culture and Tourism of the People's Republic of China, Saudi Arabia has been officially granted Approved Destination Status (ADS) by China. This bilateral agreement, on behalf of Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Tourism, allows Chinese citizens to embark on group tours to Saudi Arabia and significantly simplifies access to the Kingdom.
The attainment of Approved Destination Status marks a substantial milestone for Saudi Arabia, fostering enhanced connectivity between the Kingdom and China, and opening up a plethora of opportunities within the tourism sector. This development follows a series of ongoing collaborative efforts between the two nations, exemplified by the successful Arab-China Business Conference and the Saudi-China Roadshow earlier in the year, underscoring Saudi Arabia's commitment to becoming a strategic and economic partner for China.
Ahmed Al-Khateeb, Saudi Arabia's Tourism Minister, expressed, "China and Saudi Arabia are ushering in a new era of collaboration, driven by China's Belt and Road Initiative and Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030. The ADS status is expected to significantly boost inbound travel from China, creating greater ease of access needed to reach Saudi Arabia's target of attracting 3 million Chinese tourists by 2030."
Du Jiang, Vice Minister of Culture and Tourism of China, added, "ADS, with its potential to enhance people-to-people exchanges and dialogue, is a testament to our shared vision."
Fahd Hamidaddin, CEO of the Saudi Tourism Authority, emphasized the importance of the ADS status as the foundation for future endeavors. He spoke of plans to expand air connectivity, streamline visa services, and integrate Chinese payment solutions like UnionPay to make the travel experience seamless for Chinese visitors.
Leading up to the ADS signing, Saudi Arabia implemented several initiatives to cater to the Chinese market. Direct flights between Jeddah and Beijing and Riyadh and Beijing were launched by SAUDIA, highlighting the growing demand for travel between the two countries. Additionally, Saudi Arabia included China in its list of countries eligible for e-visas and visa on arrival. Various collaborations and marketing campaigns were initiated to enhance the appeal of Saudi Arabia as a tourist destination for Chinese travelers.
Saudi Arabia's tourism sector is poised for growth, with a China-ready strategy focused on providing tailored and dynamic experiences for Chinese tourists. This strategy includes special hotel offers, Mandarin signage, online portals in Mandarin, and more, all aimed at making Saudi Arabia an attractive and accessible destination for Chinese visitors. To learn more about Saudi Arabia's tourism offerings, visit the VisitSaudi.cn website.
