In a momentous event marked by a signing ceremony in Beijing, Saudi Arabia has been granted Approved Destination Status (ADS) by the People’s Republic of China. The ceremony took place on 26 September in the presence of His Excellency Abdulrahman Ahmad Al-Harbi, Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to China, Fahd Hamidaddin, Chief Executive Officer of Saudi Tourism Authority, and Du Jiang, Vice Minister of Culture and Tourism of the People’s Republic of China.
The bilateral agreement, signed on behalf of the Ministry of Tourism of Saudi Arabia, opens up new avenues for Chinese citizens to travel to Saudi Arabia in group tours, streamlining access to the Kingdom. This achievement marks a significant milestone for Saudi Arabia, promising to foster greater connectivity between the Kingdom and China, unlocking fresh opportunities within the tourism sector.
The attainment of ADS status is a testament to the enduring and growing partnership between Saudi Arabia and China. This milestone follows a series of successful bilateral events, including the Arab-China Business Conference and the Saudi-China Roadshow earlier this year, demonstrating Saudi Arabia’s commitment to becoming an economic and strategic partner to China.
Saudi Arabia’s Tourism Minister, HE Ahmed Al-Khateeb said, “Underpinned by China’s Belt and Road Initiative and Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, China and Saudi Arabia are unlocking limitless opportunities and driving forward mutually beneficial collaboration. The ADS status is expected to significantly boost inbound travel from China, creating greater ease of access needed to reach Saudi Arabia’s target of attracting 3 million Chinese tourists by 2030.”
China’s Vice Minister of Culture and Tourism, Du Jiang stated, “I am delighted to sign the ADS agreement with Saudi, one of our key Belt and Road Initiative partners, as we mark the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative this year. ADS, with its potential to enhance people-to-people exchanges and dialogue, is a testament to this shared vision.”
Fahd Hamidaddin, Chief Executive Officer of Saudi Tourism Authority, added, “With the prestigious ADS status as our foundation, we will continue to work closely with our partners to facilitate the rapid expansion of air connectivity between our two countries. We are also streamlining our visa services, offering e-visas in just under three minutes and visas on arrival. Additionally, we have integrated Chinese payment solutions like UnionPay to facilitate seamless payment for Chinese travelers.”
In the months leading up to the ADS signing, Saudi Arabia launched several initiatives to cater to the Chinese market. The country’s flag carrier SAUDIA introduced direct flights from Jeddah and Riyadh to Beijing, along with daily flights from Guangzhou, indicating a growing demand for connectivity between both nations.
The achievement of ADS will further strengthen collaboration with China and enhance existing partnerships in Saudi Arabia, including the alliance with UnionPay. China is among the 57 countries eligible for Saudi’s e-visa and visa on arrival programs, as well as enjoying free hotel stays when flying onwards on SAUDIA as part of Saudi’s 96-hour Stopover Visa program.
Additional initiatives include the launch of the VisitSaudi.cn portal in Mandarin, Mandarin signage at Riyadh airport, and joint marketing campaigns with leading travel trade partners to create excitement year-round. Chinese holidaymakers can also benefit from special hotel offers provided by local Destination Management Companies (DMCs), inviting them to explore Saudi Arabia on their terms.
In total, Saudi Arabia offers 162 products tailored to the Chinese market. Through these collaborative efforts, Saudi Arabia is pursuing a “China-ready” strategy aimed at creating personalised and dynamic experiences for Chinese travellers.
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Photo – top of page – Hasaan Malik / Unsplash
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