Saudi Tourism Authority will make its debut at MATTA Fair 2023 as it seeks to promote itself as a destination choice for Malaysians after opening up and looking beyond oil for its future revenue.
The agency is tasked to raise awareness of Saudi, the true home of Arabia, as a world-class, must-visit tourism destination. The Saudi pavilion will provide a platform for partners to engage directly with and build relationships with STA representatives showcasing the breadth and diversity of the country’s dynamic tourism offering. With a121% YoY growth from the pre-pandemic levels, the country achieved 93.5 million visits in 2022 and is outpacing global tourism sector recovery as recognized by the UNWTO. As the world’s biggest investor in tourism, Saudi has committed over a hundred billion dollars to developing new destinations by 2030.
Alhasan Aldabbagh, President – APAC, Saudi Tourism Authority, said, “Our role is to support our partners, showcase the new, undiscovered experiences and unlock the wealth of opportunity the destination presents as we embark on our ambitious goal of welcoming 100 million visits by 2030.”
Malaysia is already a key tourism source market for Saudi, with 312,000 Malaysian visitors in 2022 and an aim to double visitor numbers this year. In the run-up to the fair, Saudi Tourism Authority hosted a successful roadshow in Kuala Lumpur last month with 22 partners including DMCs, hoteliers, Umrah companies and travel associations to announce the launch of Nusuk, the new Umrah integrated digital platform which welcomes pilgrims globally to experience Umrah.
Visitors can look forward to the Stopover Visa, available to all leisure, business and religious Malaysian travelers flying on SAUDIA and flynas. Travelers can experience a stopover in Saudi for up to 96 hours and enjoy a complimentary one-night hotel stay with Saudia. This makes Saudi a perfect stopover destination for Malaysians traveling to Europe, UK and US.
