Xi announces China to list Saudi Arabia as destination for group travel – Saudi Gazette

Xi announces China to list Saudi Arabia as destination for group travel – Saudi Gazette

Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — Chinese President Xi Jinping announced that his country listed Saudi Arabia as an outbound destination for group travel of Chinese tourists.

China also decided to expand personnel exchanges as well as cultural and people-to-people exchanges between the two sides. President Xi revealed this following his official talks with Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh on Thursday, Chinese news agency Xinhua reported. Their talks also figured on investment opportunities in the available resources in both countries to achieve their common interests.

Around 20,000 Chinese tourists visited Saudi Arabia in 2022, according to the data published by the Saudi Ministry of Tourism. This figure is expected to increase in the future, especially in the wake of the new initiative announced by Chinese President Xi.

In an earlier interview with Xinhua, Saudi Tourism Minister Ahmed Al-Khateeb stated that the Kingdom seeks to attract Chinese tourists by ensuring they can obtain their tourism visas in an easier way.

The Riyadh Airports Company has announced starting work on standards to facilitate the entry of Chinese tourists with ensuring their travel experience much easier, and overcoming language barriers by providing them with all the needed appropriate services, including payment systems that