Overview
- Saudi authorities have started a pilot of the Package Visa that links tourist visa issuance directly to a single online booking that can include round‑trip flights, licensed hotel stays and optional tours.
- The service is available only through qualified, accredited travel and tourism providers that must meet service standards and offer 24/7 customer support to manage visa processing and traveller assistance.
- Officials frame the move as part of Vision 2030 and the Kingdom’s ongoing visa liberalizations that helped draw more than 29 million visitors in 2025 and aim to make travel planning easier for first‑time and repeat visitors.
- Media outlets report that initial pilot markets may include countries such as India, Pakistan and others and cite example package starting prices of about SAR 4,000, but Saudi authorities have not published a complete country list or universal price points.
- The packaged model is meant to reduce paperwork and booking steps for travellers, create new commercial opportunities for tour operators, and could encourage longer stays and richer itineraries if the pilot leads to a broader rollout.