Saudi Tourism Authority hosts 4-city networking event in India to strengthen trade partnerships

The Saudi Tourism Authority (STA) recently hosted a series of networking events across four cities in India. The events held in Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Kolkata were a part of STA’s ongoing commitment to strengthen partnerships with travel trade and showcase diverse offerings as a top travel destination.

The events were strategically designed to cater to the unique interests of each city, providing tailored information, highlighting leisure activities, cultural heritage, corporate travel, and pilgrimage.

The series of events kickstarted in Ahmedabad and concluded in Kolkata. In Mumbai, 55 leading travel agents and industry representatives participated, while 50 members of the travel trade associations and tour operators attended the Delhi event. In Mumbai and Delhi, STA offered an immersive experience for participants through multimedia presentations, networking opportunities with STA officials, and interactive sessions like a harmonica workshop. The presentation gave an engaging account of the destination’s stunning landscapes, upcoming cultural festivals like Jeddah Season, adventure tourism, and luxury accommodations, as well as information on visa and flight connectivity. A calligraphy artist presented personalised mementoes to the attendees.

In Ahmedabad and Kolkata, the events were focussed on Umrah. Detailed information about the pilgrimage experience, services available to Indian pilgrims, travel packages, accommodations, and religious sites were shared. The STA team also provided information on easy visa processes that ensure a seamless experience to pilgrims embarking on their spiritual journey to Saudi. Over 100 travel agents specialising in religious tourism attended the events held in these two key cities.

STA is dedicated to fostering long-lasting relationships with Indian travel partners and facilitating collaborations to drive tourism. By hosting these events, STA aims to provide firsthand knowledge and insights to Indian travel agents, enabling them to craft exceptional experiences and itineraries for their clients.

Saudi now offers easy visas and options like e-Visa*, visa-on-arrival* and stopover visa* to Indian passport holders with a valid tourist or business visa from the US, UK, or Schengen countries with entry stamps from the issuing country. Those with permanent residency in these countries can also apply at self-service kiosks or passport control offices at Saudi airports. Those not eligible under the above-mentioned criteria can apply through Tasheer Centres across India. The process includes document preparation, appointment booking, application submission, biometric enrolment, and passport collection. Currently, there are 10 visa facilitation centres in Mumbai, Delhi, Cochin, Chennai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Lucknow, Kolkata and Calicut with plans to add more dedicated centres in additional cities. All of these visa options are valid for those wishing to perform Umrah.