UAE, Saudi Arabia to launch ‘Schengen-Style Visa’ for Tourists
UAE, Saudi Arabia to launch ‘Schengen-style Visa’ for tourists: report from the reliable source.
The declaration about a “Schengen-style visa” for Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries was made at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM)
According to the reliable report from Arabian Business that is a subsidiary publication Hotelier Middle East stated that the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries are going to launch a Schegen –style visa that attract tourists and visitors to travel all partner countries through one visa.
The declaration was made by Fatima Al Sairafi, Minister of Tourism for the Kingdom of Bahrain, Undersecretary His Excellency Abdulla Al Saleh, Government of United Arab Emirates, and Fahd Hamidaddin, CEO of the Saudi Tourism Authority (STA) during the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) which runs until 4th of May 2023.
“We have huge opportunity; the attempt is in how to unite all the countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council GCC. We had 9.9 million guests in 2022. How? There was one prime idea that year, we initiated to co-promote Bahrain as a united goal with the Gulf Cooperation Council GCC,” Al Sairafi said, adding that the chances are “unbelievable” if all GCC countries united their efforts in advertising.
The FIFA World Cup was the amazing event last year and it was a pilot project of all Gulf countries and it was marvelous occasion.
According to the report Saudi Arabia offered 60-days visas to all HayyaCard holders during the FIFA World Cup. The achievement or success of this event is discussed in all circuits. However, more enduring travel policies that will permit the visitors to travel without any hurdle among the countries included in the scheme.
Gulf Cooperation Council GCC are United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain are all seemingly amending visas at different paces, making visa rules “naturally tricky,” according to STA’s Hamidaddin.
However, he stressed that “collaboration is the name of the game” and that the achievement of each GCC country compliments the other.
Al Sairafi added that debates were ongoing, and there was a growing acknowledgment that a Schengen-style visa for the Gulf region could be enormously advantageous.
The uncomplicated travel across the Gulf would enhance tourism for everyone, and the tourists would be happier visiting several countries without restrictions crossing borders like European countries.