Gulf Cooperation Council members have come together in unanimous agreement for a GCC unified tourism visa.
At the seventh conference of GCC tourism ministers, chaired by Oman in the city of Manah at the newly opened Across Ages Museum, Salim bin Mohammed al Mahrouqi, Oman’s Minister of Heritage and Tourism, unveiled the endorsement of the much awaited cross-border tourism visa and noted the overarching importance of the visa: “The momentous consensus reached on the common tourism visa is ground-breaking. We anticipate its implementation soon after we set all necessary mechanisms into motion.”
H. E. Mahrouqi further detailed the conference’s broader aims, which centred around reinforcing cooperation and advancing regional tourism. “With this united vision, we hope to elevate GCC’s tourism reputation, strengthen our economies, and fulfil the aspirations of our people,” he said.
Among the significant outcomes of the meeting was the formal approval of the Gulf Strategy for Tourism for the 2023-2030 period. This ambitious plan is backed by a commitment to provide regular, transparent updates on its progress. Moreover, deliberations took place on the potential creation of a GCC Tourism Statistics Platform, intended to bolster data-driven decision-making.
Jassim Mohammed al Budaiwi, GCC Secretary-General, highlighted the rapid ascent of tourism in the Gulf region. With 17 landmarks from the GCC now gracing the UNESCO World Heritage list, the region’s rich cultural tapestry is gaining global recognition.
Data from 2022 underscores the Gulf’s tourism boom, with 39.8 million tourists marking a growth of 136.6% from the previous year, resulting in an impressive US$85.9 bn in tourism expenditure.
The forthcoming GCC Tourism Strategy paints an even brighter picture for the future. It sets ambitious targets, including a 7% annual increase in tourist numbers and hikes in both inbound and domestic tourist spending up to 2030. A pivotal goal is to boost tourism’s contribution to the GDP by 7% annually.
Offering further insights, Ahmed Aqeel al Khatib, Saudi Minister of Tourism, echoed the unified sentiment. “Through collective efforts and this shared vision, the GCC stands poised to secure a significant portion of the global travel market,” he said.
The assembly concluded with a proposal, “Our Gulf, the Birthplace of Civilisations”, set to be finalised by GCC members by the end of 2023.
Looking ahead, the unanimously-backed tourism visa will be a focal point at the regional interior ministers’ meeting this November in Muscat.
Reflecting on this unanimous visa decision, a Saudi official emphasised its transformative potential in integrating GCC markets, boosting economic growth, and generating job opportunities. This visa emerges not merely as a travel facilitator but as a symbol of GCC unity and shared aspirations.
A “Schengen-style” would eliminate the need for individual visas and simplify the travel process for all GCC residents.
Currently, only citizens of GCC nations enjoy the privilege of visa-free travel within the member states. On the other hand, expatriates living in these countries generally need to apply for separate visas when planning visits to other member states. Some nationalities do have certain visa privileges, including options for visa-free or visa-on-arrival entry. Such a visa would thus be a significant boon to expats, who make up over 50% of the GCC’s population.
UAE Minister of Economy Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri was also reported to have outlined the possibility of the introduction of a Schengen style visa during his address at the recent Future Hospitality Summit in Abu Dhabi.
Earlier this year, Bahrain’s Minister of Tourism, Fatima Al Sairafi, already hinted at plans for a GCC-wide visa system, drawing parallels to Europe’s Schengen arrangement. Al Sairafi revealed that discussions were actively progressing at the ministerial level, with the implementation of this unified visa system expected in the near future.
…
Photo top of page – Blake Guidry / Unsplash
