The GCC states are discussing plans for a Schengen-style visa for tourists covering the Gulf region, Bahrain’s Minister of Tourism Fatima Al Sairafi has been quoted as saying.
Speaking at a panel discussion at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) held in Dubai last week, Al-Sairafi said the countries were studying how to achieve a unified single visa, according to a Zawya report.
Explaining the benefits of such a scheme, she said: “When we announced our five-year strategy, leading up to 2026, our KPI for 2022 tourist numbers was set at 8.3 million. But 9.9 million tourists came. And the key initiative we did last year was to co-promote Bahrain with other GCC countries, starting with Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
“We noticed that co-promoting Bahrain as a unified destination resulted in increased footfall in the country, along with an increase in the diversity of nationalities coming,” she said.
“We see people flying from abroad to Europe usually spending their time in several countries rather than in one country. We really saw the value this can bring not to each country but all of us,” Al Sairafi said.
Fahd Hamidaddin, CEO, Saudi Tourism Authority, also hailed the success of a unified destination strategy, citing the kingdom’s use of the tagline ‘Welcome to Arabia’ for the positioning of its entire tourism branding.
“We look at tourism as a region and not a country,” Hamidaddin said. “World travellers look at the region as a whole, and that’s how we should think as well. [The] success of each complements the other, like a tide that lifts all ships.”
Abdulla Al Saleh, Undersecretary, Government of UAE, said this was a strategy that has also seen the emirates rise in the tourism rankings over the years.
“We have seven emirates in the UAE, and each has developed itself as a destination for tourists. They are competing with each other, but it is healthy competition that adds value to the UAE as a tourism destination,” he said.
Samira Al Gharib, assistant undersecretary for tourism at the Kuwaiti Ministry of Trade, stated that plans for a “unified tourism visa” are being considered by GCC Interior ministries, which will be responsible for visa-related formalities.
“The unified visa targets frequent visitors to the GCC,” she said.
Once the system is finalised, nationals from the 35 countries would be able to visit the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and Oman under a single visa, a report in Middle East Briefing said. With the provision of a unified visa, GCC residents will also be able to travel visa-free, just like nationals, to all the countries under the GCC.
