Saudi Tourism Authority Makes Third Consecutive Appearance at OTM

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Saudi Tourism Authority Makes Third Consecutive Appearance at OTM; Designates India as a Prime Source Market with 50% Surge in Visitation Since 2022

  • This year, the Saudi Tourism Authority (STA) returns with a stronger delegation, comprising key stakeholders such as DMOs, DMCs, Hotels, Tour Operators and Airlines

  • The delegation will spotlight tourism offerings, emphasizing its commitment to making India the top source market, in line with Vision 2030, aiming to welcome 7.5 million Indian visitors by 2030

  • Saudi Tourism Authority is committed to partnering with India’s leading travel and tourism trade to create shared value and provide enabling solutions to unlock the unprecedented opportunities on offer in Saudi’s thriving tourism sector

  • The STA booth will be a visual portal into the country’s attractions and serve as a networking hub for the travel trade association


Mumbai, February 2024: Saudi Tourism Authority (STA) is all set to participate in the upcoming edition of Outbound Travel Market (OTM), scheduled from February 8-10 at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai. The event serves as a platform focused on strengthening ties between the travel trade and key stakeholders from the world’s fastest-growing tourism destination.

STA’s continued presence at OTM Mumbai is a testament to its burgeoning tourism industry. A delegation comprising 20 key Saudi stakeholders and prominent associates from various sectors, including DMOs such as Red Sea Global, AlUla, Diriyah, DMCs, Hotels, Tour Operators and Airlines, will be present at the event to collectively showcase the diverse offerings and initiatives driving Saudi’s tourism landscape. Their presence underscores STA’s commitment to fostering scalable partnerships with the Indian trade association. 

STA is excited to showcase its multi-faceted experiences, services, and products at its booth that embodies the essence of Saudi – the true home of Arabia. The thoughtfully designed space serves as an exceptional platform for networking and holding one-on-one meetings with the members of Indian travel trade associations, tour operators, and travel agents who will be able to learn more about mega projects such as Red Sea Global where ultra-luxe properties such as The Six Senses and St. Regis recently opened doors, AlUla, home to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Hegra, and Sindalah which will be opening in NEOM towards the end of this year.

Alhasan Aldabbagh, President – APAC Markets, Saudi Tourism Authority, emphasised the significance of the Indian market, stating, “As we continue to diversify our offerings, India has proved to be a major accelerator. We are committed to making India the top source market, aiming to welcome 7.5 million Indian visitors by 2030. To facilitate this, we made visa procedures very easy by introducing e-visa options for Indians holding US, UK and Schengen visas with stamped proof of entry. Applying for visa-on-arrival has become easier than ever as it can be processed at 10 visa centres across India.” 

 

A Stopover visa can also be applied 90 days in advance to visit Saudi for up to 96 hours at these visa facilitation centres when flying with Saudia or Flynas. “Saudi has also enhanced connectivity with Air India, Air India Express, Indigo Airlines, Spice Jet, and Vistara,” Aldabbagh added. The air connectivity has surged reaching a capacity of 2.8 million seats in 2023, a remarkable 31% increase since 2019. Flights from 12 major hubs in India to Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam signify the robust lifeline of connectivity that fortifies successful tourism initiatives.

During the event, the STA delegation will network with travel agents, tour operators, event planners, media, and attendees offering insights into Saudi’s diverse tourism options including providing insights into one of the world’s largest event extravaganzas, as Saudi is hosting 17,000 events, including  Riyadh Season, Jeddah Season and Diriyah Season, with notable events coming up including the Saudi Cup (February 23-24), Saudi Arabian Grand Prix (March 7-9), AlUla Arts Festival (February 9-March 2), AlUla Skies Festival (April 10-27) and much more.