Tag Archives: Saudi Tourism Authority

Saudi Tourism hosts 4-city networking events in India

The Saudi Tourism Authority (STA) recently hosted a series of networking events across four cities in India. The events held in Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Kolkata were a part of STA’s ongoing commitment to strengthen partnerships with travel trade and showcase diverse offerings as a top travel destination.

The events were strategically designed to cater to the unique interests of each city, providing tailored information, highlighting leisure activities, cultural heritage, corporate travel, and pilgrimage.

The series of events kickstarted in Ahmedabad and concluded in Kolkata. In Mumbai, 55 leading travel agents and industry representatives participated, while 50 members of the travel trade associations and tour operators attended the Delhi event. In Mumbai and Delhi, STA offered an immersive experience for participants through multimedia presentations, networking opportunities with STA officials, and interactive sessions like a harmonica workshop. The presentation gave an engaging account of the destination’s stunning landscapes, upcoming cultural festivals like Jeddah Season, adventure tourism, and luxury accommodations, as well as information on visa and flight connectivity. A calligraphy artist presented personalised mementoes to the attendees.

In Ahmedabad and Kolkata, the events were focused on Umrah. Detailed information about the pilgrimage experience, services available to Indian pilgrims, travel packages, accommodations, and religious sites were shared. The STA team also provided information on easy visa processes that ensure a seamless experience to pilgrims embarking on their spiritual journey to Saudi. Over 100 travel agents specialising in religious tourism attended the events held in these two key cities.

STA is dedicated to fostering long-lasting relationships with Indian travel partners and facilitating collaborations to drive tourism. By hosting these events, STA aims to provide firsthand knowledge and insights to Indian travel agents, enabling them to craft exceptional experiences and itineraries for their clients.

 

 

Saudi Tourism Authority hosts 4-city networking events for Indian travel trade

Beginning the year with massive inbound numbers in 2023, a growth of 50% over 2022, Saudi Tourism Authority aims to make India its top source market targeting 7.5 million visitors within the next seven years.

Committed to the Indian market, Saudi Tourism Authority (STA) hosted a series of networking events held across four cities – Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, and Delhi for the members of the Indian travel trade associations.

The STA delegation with key stakeholders engaged with over 500 travel agents and tour operators from these key cities. STA also organised sales mission in collaboration with leading Destination Management Companies (DMC) across all four cities, engaging with key trade partners. It showcased STA’s dedication towards fostering strategic partnerships and long-term business ties within India.

STA also participated in OTM in Mumbai and SATTE in Greater Noida setting the tone for a year brimming with opportunities. STA delegation, comprising 20 key Saudi stakeholders and distinguished associates, engaged fervently with Indian travel agents and tour operators, paving the way for collaborations.

The trade shows, held in February, witnessed the unlocking of the full potential of Saudi’s tourism offerings. At the heart of these engagements stood the vibrant Saudi Pavilion, a beacon of cultural richness and hospitality, drawing hundreds of visitors.

Throughout the events, STA engaged in meetings, signed MoUs and initiated partnerships with members of Indian travel trade associations, tour operators, and event planners. Attendees were enlightened about 17,000 events on the Saudi calendar. From showcasing electronic visa options for Indian travellers to highlighting Giga projects, newly launched hotels, and increased air connectivity, STA presented Saudi Arabia as a premier tourism destination.

To facilitate seamless travel experiences for Indian visitors, Saudi has simplified its visa process, offering options like e-visas and visa-on-arrival. These options are extended to individuals with US, UK, and Schengen visas and stamped proof of entry from the issuing country. Visa applications can be applied Tasheer Centres across India and on the official platform visa.mofa.gov.sa.

STA has also lined up various consumer campaigns for this year. It includes a destination awareness campaign from the luxury point of view, summer initiatives in March and April as well as winter initiatives later this year. The Living Wonders of Arabia and the Women Wonder campaigns will be launched soon. STA launched the ‘Go Beyond What You Think’ campaign video with football icon Lionel Messi earlier this year reflecting the vision of positioning the country as an exciting destination and breaking myths.

 

SKAL International Mumbai 144 organises Networking Event in Mumbai

SKAL International Mumbai 144 recently hosted a networking event at Westin Powai, Mumbai. SK Burjis Mehta, President, SKAL International Mumbai 144,  during an interview with TravelBiz Monitor at the event said that it marked their 5th networking event and 7th activity since assuming office in March 2023. Mehta highlighted their collaborative approach with sister clubs like SKAL Mumbai South Club and SKAL Pune Club, emphasising reciprocal participation among members as a positive development benefiting mutual interests.

Looking ahead to 2024, Mehta expressed a goal to expand their membership to 150-200 from the current 122, mentioning plans to extend complimentary memberships to GMs who have co-hosted or fully hosted their events.

Additionally, SK Carl Vaz, National President, SKAL India, announced an upcoming training session and dinner event on January 19th, organised by SKAL International Mumbai 144 in partnership with the Saudi Tourism Authority. Vaz specified that the event, tailored for women, will feature a test, with successful participants becoming eligible for an exclusive familiarisation trip to Saudi Arabia, exclusively for women.

Acknowledging the commendable growth in membership, Vaz extended special gratitude to SK Arvind Tandon for his exceptional efforts, as 18 new members joined SKAL International Mumbai 144 since the new committee assumed leadership.

 

TBO, Saudi Tourism host interactive session for Women Travel Leaders in Mumbai

To encourage more women travellers from India to Saudi Arabia, TBO, in partnership with Saudi Tourism Authority, hosted an engaging session for women leaders in Mumbai. Twenty four travel agents participated in this event.

Talking to TravelBiz Monitor, Vidhu Lamba, Vice President, TBO Academy, discussed the various perceptions surrounding Saudi as a destination for women travellers. “Many questions arise about women’s safety, dress codes, and permissible activities,” said Lamba. The aim of the session was to dispel these doubts and showcase Saudi as a safe destination. “We want our travel partners to understand that Saudi Arabia is among the safest countries for women,” Lamba emphasised.

In addition to renowned shopping spots, Saudi offers a plethora of options for women travellers, including hiking and biking tours, luxury spas, entertainment, and yoga activities.

Regarding the industry’s response, Lamba noted a shift in perceptions about Saudi as a travel destination over the past six months. “Especially after the Indian Premier League (IPL), people realised that Saudi is an unexplored destination with nightlife, adventure, and even snowfall,” Lamba pointed out.

She highlighted that the Saudi Tourism Authority is diligently addressing challenges faced by travel agents related to inventory, food, hospitality, and visa concerns.

Lamba acknowledged her efforts in promoting Saudi for the past two years, with noticeable results emerging in the last six months. “We still have a long journey ahead. Everyone desires to travel without apprehension, and achieving that will take time,” she concluded.

 

Saudi Tourism, JCB sign MoU to boost tourism in Japan among card members

Saudi Tourism Authority (STA) and JCB International Co., Ltd. (JCB) have reached a agreement aimed at boosting tourism in Saudi among JCB card members globally. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signifies a significant milestone in collaboration between the two entities.

Alhasan Aldabbagh, President, Asia Pacific Markets, at Saudi Tourism Authority (STA), said, “We are thrilled to partner with JCB International, a global leader in payment and technology. This is a great opportunity for our tourism industry, as it will offer more convenience, familiarity, and security for Japanese travelers and other Asian tourists who prefer to use cashless payment methods. We believe this collaboration will enhance the appeal of Saudi as a destination for international visitors and support our vision of becoming a leading global tourism hub.”

The partnership with JCB is anticipated to unlock various opportunities for cooperation between Saudi and Japan. Notably, Japan is one of the 57 countries eligible for Saudi’s e-visa and visa on arrival, with special benefits such as a free one-night hotel stay for tourists flying onwards on SAUDIA as part of Saudi’s 96-hour Stopover Visa program.

Other key initiatives include VisitSaudi.ja portal in Japanese and joint marketing campaigns with leading travel trade partners to create excitement all year round. Japanese holidaymakers can also take advantage of special hotel offers from local Destination Management Companies (DMC), with attractive deals inviting them to discover the true home of Arabia on their terms.

Yoshiki Kaneko, President and CEO of JCB International Co., Ltd, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership. “This is a great chance for us to promote exciting travel experiences to Saudi for our cardmembers. Like Japan, Saudi is a truly unique destination, with fascinating nature, culture and history.”

He added, “We’ve been working closely with the leading local banks in Saudi such as SNB, Alinma Bank, Riyad Bank, ANB, and Bank Al Jazira on merchant and ATM enablement to ensure JCB’s 154 million card members enjoy a seamless experience in Saudi.”

This partnership signifies an important step in enhancing tourism, facilitating travel, and fostering greater cultural exchange between Saudi and Japan.

Saudi Tourism deepens ties with India via IPL collaboration

The Saudi Tourism Authority’s (STA) partnership with the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) has deepened ties between Saudi and India, helping to harness the potential of sport and tourism to bring people together and enrich lives.

Saudi is set to welcome two million visitors from India this year, and India is expected to become its largest tourism source market by 2030.

Saudi support for India’s sports sector is a strong example of market collaboration delivering results.

Cricket is the most popular sport in India and the IPL has an immense global audience, third to only the English Premier League and the National Football League.

STA is tapping into this fanbase to boost awareness of Saudi as an exciting new year-round destination for Indian travellers, especially young people. The strategic partnership is broadening how India and Saudi are engaging with similarly overwhelmingly young demographics – with more than half of both populations below the age of 30.

Alongside the IPL partnership, Saudi is easing access for millions of visitors across India, inspiring Indian travellers to explore the authentic home of Arabia. Saudi has opened nine VFS Tasheel offices in different locations across India such as Hyderabad, Mumbai, Chennai, Kochi, Ahmedabad, and Bengaluruproviding practical support to Indian travellers interested in a trip to Saudi.

Indian visitors are eligible for the new Stopover Visa, introduced earlier this year, which will allow passengers traveling to a final destination on SAUDIA or Flynas to visit Saudi for up to 96 hours, which includes a complimentary hotel night for Saudia passengers. Additionally, Indian passport holders that have UK, US and Schengen visa that has been used at least once will now be able to apply for a Saudi e-visa online.

These developments follow the rapid advancements in air connectivity between India and the Kingdom with seven direct carriers in operation – SAUDIA, Flynas, Air India, Air India Express, Indigo Airlines, Spice Jet and Vistara and the recently launched route between Jeddah and Ahmedabad by Indigo airlines which increases the accesbility between the two countries. The expansion is part of Saudi’s Air Connectivity Progam and will turn Riyadh into a global hub that will be able to accommodate 120 million passengers in the next seven years.

Alhasan Aldabbagh, APAC President at Saudi Tourism Authority, said, “Partnerships like the IPL are a key pillar of Saudi’s tourism strategy as they bring fans, athletes, and nations together while sparking curiosity from those that may want to be among the first to visit Saudi as a destination.”

Saudi has a fast-growing love for cricket. In 2020, the Saudi Arabian Cricket Federation (SACF) was set up, managing 16 regional associations in 11 cities, 8,000+ registered players, and 400+ registered clubs, with a total participation of 35,000 in domestic cricket tournaments and championships. The Saudi cricket national team is presently ranked 32nd out of 108 nations in cricket.

The collaboration will not only strengthen Saudi’s commitment to India as an important market but seeks to broaden Saudi’s association with cricket – with the Saudi Vision 2030 plan aiming to increase community participation in sports from 13 per cent to 40 per cent by 2030.