Riyadh, September 26, 2023, In a significant development, Saudi Arabia has officially been granted Approved Destination Status (ADS) by the People's Republic of China. This achievement follows a signing ceremony in Beijing, attended by Abdulrahman Ahmad Al-Harbi, the Saudi Ambassador to China, Fahd Hamidaddin, the Chief Executive Officer of the Saudi Tourism Authority, and Du Jiang, Vice Minister of Culture and Tourism of the People's Republic of China.
The ADS status enables Chinese citizens to travel to Saudi Arabia in organized group tours, thereby facilitating easier access to the Kingdom for Chinese tourists. This milestone holds great importance for Saudi Arabia as it paves the way for enhanced connectivity between the two nations, unlocking numerous opportunities within the tourism sector.
The bilateral agreement solidifies the growing relationship between Saudi Arabia and China, underlined by successful events such as the Arab-China Business Conference and the Saudi-China Roadshow earlier this year. These initiatives reflect Saudi Arabia's commitment to becoming an economic and strategic partner for China.
Ahmed Al-Khateeb, the Tourism Minister of Saudi Arabia, emphasized the significance of this achievement in the context of both China's Belt and Road Initiative and Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, which aims at meaningful economic and social development. The ADS status is expected to substantially boost inbound travel from China, aligning with Saudi Arabia's target of attracting 3 million Chinese tourists by 2030.
Vice Minister Du Jiang of the People's Republic of China's Culture and Tourism Ministry expressed delight in signing the ADS agreement with Saudi Arabia, highlighting the long-standing cultural appreciation and mutual respect between the two nations. ADS is seen as a means to enhance people-to-people exchanges and dialogue.
Fahd Hamidaddin, CEO of the Saudi Tourism Authority, outlined plans to expand air connectivity between Saudi Arabia and China, streamline visa services, and integrate Chinese payment solutions. Saudi Arabia has already launched direct flights between Jeddah/Riyadh and Beijing, along with daily flights from Guangzhou, reflecting the growing demand for travel between the two countries.
The ADS achievement is expected to bolster collaboration with China further and build on existing partnerships in Saudi Arabia. Initiatives like the alliance with UnionPay, acceptance of Chinese payment solutions, inclusion in Saudi's e-visa program, and the 96-hour Stopover Visa program for Chinese travelers all contribute to strengthening the relationship and enhancing tourism between the two nations.
