GCC countries are looking to launch a "Schengen-style" visa for tourists, which is expected to boost revenue and visitor numbers for all countries in the region.
Arabian Travel Market in Dubai Events
During Arabian Travel Market, Bahrain's Minister of Tourism," Fatima Al-Sayrafi" has announced , that discussions are underway at the ministerial level among the GCC countries on how to obtain a single unified visa.
As the Serafi stated During a panel discussion on "The Future of GCC Travel", which is held at the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai "We see this happening very soon , people who travel to Europe from abroad usually spend their time in several countries and not in one country ".
She also pointed out that Bahrain has benefited from co-promoting the country along with the UAE, and Saudi Arabia, “We targeted 8.3 million tourists for 2022 but achieved 9.9 million visitors because we co-promoted Bahrain along with the UAE and other GCC markets. It resulted in an increased number of tourists. When we co-promoted at a unified destination through 100-plus tour operators, the footfall also increased and the diversity of nationalities of tourists also increased,” she said.
Abdullah Al Saleh, undersecretary for the Ministry of Economy, has declared during the panel discussion that all GCC countries believe that the tourism sector is vital for the growth of their economies
What is a Schengen visa?
Visa Schengen is a document that allows its holder to enter all 27 European member states of the Schengen region. Travellers who carry a Schengen visa can stay within the Schengen countries for a short stay (up to 90 days over a 180-day period).
