A proposal for a tourist visa is scheduled for discussion at the forthcoming regional interior ministers’ conference in Muscat, taking place in November this year. The proposed changes would allow visitors to use a single tourism visa to visit all six GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries, including Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. This streamlined approach aims to simplify the travel process for visitors. The decision is expected to have a positive impact on the travel and tourism sector, which has been significantly affected by the COVID-related restrictions. Oman's Minister of Heritage and Tourism expressed unanimous agreement on the importance of introducing a common tourism visa for the GCC. Further discussions and meetings will be held to reach a comprehensive agreement on this initiative.
The Ministry also noted that the proposal to designate Omani City Sur as the "Capital of Tourism" in 2024 received unanimous support. Sur will host various activities throughout the year to attract a significant number of tourists from Gulf countries. The GCC Tourism Strategy aims for ambitious growth, targeting an annual increase of seven percent in tourist numbers until 2030. Efforts are being made to establish a unified Gulf statistics center and a common tourist visa system. With coordinated efforts, the GCC region is poised to capture a significant share of the global travel market, as highlighted by Saudi Minister of Tourism Ahmed Aqeel al-Khatib.
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