From Spiritual To Leisure Journeys, Saudi Arabia Welcomes Malaysian Tourists

PUTRAJAYA, Aug 29 (Bernama) -- Saudi Arabia is now extending its welcome beyond religious visits, inviting Malaysians to explore the Kingdom as one of the fastest-growing tourism destinations in the world.

Saudi Tourism Authority (STA) President for Asia-Pacific Markets, Alhasan Al-Dabbagh, said Saudi Arabia is now offering a diverse array of attractions as it has gone through a major transformation and invested in infrastructure as well as created a calendar of events throughout the year.

“Millions of Malaysians who come to Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj and Umrah, have always been welcome on their spiritual journey. But now Saudi Arabia is also a tourism destination.

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“There is a lot that we can offer now. We have a very rich culture and heritage, so there are a lot of monuments. We have eight UNESCO World Heritage sites in Saudi Arabia,” he told reporters at the launching of the Saudi Travel Fair hosted by the STA at IOI Mall here yesterday.

The five-day inaugural fair which started yesterday, features over 13 top Malaysian travel agencies showcasing numerous tourist and cultural attractions in Saudi Arabia.

Alhasan said Malaysia was one of the countries eligible for e-visa, making it easier than ever for Malaysians to visit Saudi Arabia, with travelers able to obtain their visa online in minutes.

He said the 96-hour Stopover Visa was also a great offer for travelers to enjoy a stay of up to 96 hours in the Kingdom.

“It's a great offer because Malaysians traveling through Saudi Arabia can start for 96 hours free of charge. And with this, they can perform Umrah and visit any city that they want. If you have an Umrah visa, you can go to any city in Saudi. 

“You can stop in Riyadh first and then perform the Umrah in Makkah or ziarah in Medina. And if you have a twelve-month tourist visa with multiple entries, you can also perform Umrah. So we made it very easy,” he added.

Alhasan said the Riyadh season offers a lot of attractions, including a variety of entertainment, cultural, and sports events scheduled in the Saudi capital this October.

“In March 2025, we will also be hosting the Formula 1. We’re here with special offers, and some of our partners at the travel fair in IOI Putrajaya have exclusive discounted pricing for Formula 1 as well,” he said.

-- BERNAMA