Planning a holiday to Saudi Arabia could soon become as simple as making a single booking.In its latest move to transform the country’s tourism industry, Saudi Arabia has launched the pilot phase of its new Tourist Package Visa service, an initiative that combines flight bookings, hotel reservations and tourist visa processing into one integrated travel package. The programme is designed to remove the hassle of arranging each part of a trip separately while offering visitors a smoother experience from the moment they begin planning their journey.The new service reflects Saudi Arabia’s broader strategy to make the Kingdom more accessible to international tourists as it pushes ahead with its ambitious Vision 2030 tourism goals. Rather than navigating multiple websites and separate applications, eligible travellers can now secure their entire itinerary, including their visa, through approved travel service providers in a single digital process.
How Saudi Arabia’s package visa works
The new Package Visa allows visitors to purchase a complete travel package that bundles together almost every essential part of a holiday.A single booking can include:
- Return airfare
- Accommodation at licensed tourist properties
- Electronic tourist visa processing
- Tourist activities and cultural experiences
- Entertainment events and attractions
Instead of booking flights first, applying separately for a visa and then searching for hotels, travellers complete everything in one transaction through accredited travel and tourism providers. The government says this significantly reduces paperwork and simplifies the overall travel planning process.The initiative has also been designed to encourage visitors to explore more destinations within Saudi Arabia by making it easier to add experiences and activities while booking their trip. Officials believe this integrated approach could encourage longer stays and increase tourism spending across the Kingdom.
Who can apply?
For now, the programme is being introduced on a pilot basis and is available only through approved “general category” travel and tourism service providers operating in selected international markets.According to Saudi authorities, the first phase covers visitors travelling from:
- India
- Pakistan
- Bangladesh
- Indonesia
- Egypt
- Jordan
- Mexico
The pilot also comes with several operational requirements to ensure the system runs smoothly before wider expansion. These include fully prepared digital booking platforms, continuous 24/7 technical support and dedicated visitor communication services.Saudi media reports that package prices begin at SAR 4,000, while trips must be booked for a minimum stay of two days. Each package can include up to 14 travellers, making the service particularly attractive for families, tour groups and group holidays.Authorities have indicated that the initiative will gradually expand to additional markets after the pilot phase is evaluated.
Saudi Arabia’s tourism growth
The Package Visa is not simply a new visa category, it represents another step in Saudi Arabia’s wider transformation of its tourism ecosystem.In recent years, the Kingdom has steadily introduced measures to make visiting easier, including the electronic tourist visa, visa-on-arrival options and transit visas. The latest initiative builds upon those reforms by integrating travel services into one digital customer journey rather than treating visa applications as a separate process.The programme is also expected to strengthen partnerships with private travel companies. By allowing agencies to bundle visa arrangements alongside flights, hotels and experiences, operators can offer more comprehensive holiday packages while creating additional value for travellers.
Looking ahead
Officials hope these richer itineraries will encourage visitors to stay longer and explore more of Saudi Arabia’s rapidly expanding tourism offerings.The timing reflects Saudi Arabia’s remarkable tourism growth. According to official figures, the Kingdom welcomed more than 29 million international visitors in 2025, highlighting the rapid expansion of its tourism sector as the country works towards becoming one of the world’s leading travel destinations under Vision 2030.With the launch of the Package Visa pilot, Saudi Arabia is signalling that the future of travel may be less about paperwork and more about convenience, bringing flights, accommodation, experiences and entry permissions together in one seamless booking designed to make discovering the Kingdom easier than ever.
