NEW DELHI: The variety of Indians touring to Saudi Arabia has grown by 50 p.c following a collection of strategic initiatives in 2023, the Kingdom’s tourism authority mentioned, because it participated in India’s primary worldwide journey present over the weekend.

The 2024 version of the South Asian Travel and Tourism Exchange — Asia’s main platform for the tourism and hospitality trade — occurred in Noida within the Indian capital area on Feb. 22-24.

The Saudi Tourism Authority established an enormous pavilion on the venue, selling the Kingdom’s historical heritage websites and new tourism locations.

“This marks Saudi Tourism Authority’s third year participating in one of the most prominent tourism trade shows in South Asia,” Alhasan Al-Dabbagh, STA president for Asia-Pacific markets, advised Arab News.

“SATTE has been successful as it gave us the opportunity to strengthen our partnerships, share insights and grow together with our trade partners with one unified goal, which is to bring Saudi to life and make its experiences and packages bookable.”

The Saudi exhibition this yr was larger than within the truthful’s earlier editions, additionally reflecting the growing success of its promotional technique in India.

“We hosted over 1.5 million Indian inbound travelers in 2023, making a substantial 50 percent increase in visitation from 2022. This surge is attributed to strategic initiatives, including a successful partnership with the Indian Premier League, (and) enhanced air connectivity,” Al-Dabbagh mentioned.

In February final yr, the STA signed a partnership settlement with the IPL — the lads’s T20 franchise that’s the world’s most-watched cricket league — changing into its official sponsor and tapping into a powerful sports activities fanbase in each nations.

Saudi and Indian airways have additionally added new flights in 2023, connecting Indian cities on to the Kingdom, whereas immigration procedures have been streamlined with further visa-processing facilities.

“Last year, we opened 10 VFS Tasheel offices across India, with plans to expand into tier-two cities. We launched our first-ever free 96-hour stopover visa early last year in collaboration with SAUDIA and flynas, our national carriers,” Al-Dabbagh mentioned, including that it’s now “easier than ever” for Indians to go to the Kingdom.

Indians have been drawn primarily to the rising variety of cultural points of interest, with archaeological works in full swing and the event of leisure infrastructure.

The high locations are at present Madinah, Riyadh, Jeddah, and AlUla — one of many Kingdom’s six UNESCO World Heritage websites.

“Saudi has been promoting its rich cultural and historical heritage through key initiatives like the restoration and preservation of heritage sites such as AlUla and Diriyah and the development of cultural festivals and events,” Al-Dabbagh mentioned.

“To offer Indian travelers a plethora of accommodation options and recreational activities tailored to their preferences, we have invested heavily in developing tourism infrastructure, including hotels, resorts, and entertainment facilities, to accommodate the growing number of visitors.”

Tourism is a booming sector in Saudi Arabia underneath the Vision 2030 diversification plan. A key a part of the imaginative and prescient is to place the Kingdom as a dynamic, numerous, year-round tourism vacation spot and market that can contribute 10 p.c of the gross home product by 2030.

In the final three years, India has emerged as a key tourism supply market, and the STA expects it to turn into its largest within the subsequent few years.

“By 2030, India is anticipated to become the number one inbound market for Saudi, underlining the growing importance of Indian tourists,” Al-Dabbagh mentioned.

“Our aim is to welcome 7.5 million Indian visitors by 2030, aligning with our ambitious goals to enhance and diversify the tourism sector while fostering stronger connections between the two nations.”