Saudi Arabia Expands Electronic Visa Program to Caribbean Countries
In a move to boost tourism and global connectivity, Saudi Arabia has extended its electronic visa program to include citizens from Barbados, the Bahamas, and Grenada.
Now, individuals from these Caribbean countries have the option to apply for a visa online or upon arrival to visit the Kingdom for various purposes such as tourism, Umrah, attending events, exhibitions, conferences, or visiting friends and relatives.
With this expansion, the total number of countries eligible for the eVisa program has reached 66. This initiative is part of the Ministry of Tourism’s efforts to drive economic diversification and achieve the tourism objectives outlined in the Saudi Vision 2030 plan for national development and diversification. These goals aim to increase the tourism industry’s contribution to GDP by over 10% and create 1 million jobs in the sector.
The introduction of tourist visas in September 2019 was a strategic move by the Ministry of Tourism to showcase Saudi Arabia’s cultural heritage, attract visitors from across the globe, and promote international interactions. The success of the eVisa program is expected to lead to further expansion to include more countries in the future.