Saudi Arabia to Issue Tourist Visas to Japanese

May 11, 2018

Tokyo- Saudi Arabia will begin issuing tourist visas to Japanese soon, visiting Saudi Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz indicated Thursday.

Tourism promotion is part of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's economic reform efforts mainly aimed at reducing his country's dependence on oil.

Speculation was growing that the Middle East country may start full-fledged tourist visa issuance to non-Muslim foreigners by year-end.

Saudi Arabia suffers a loss if it does not accept Japanese people, who are polite, Sultan told reporters. He is a son of King Salman bin Abdulaziz and president of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage.

The Saudi government issues visas to Muslim people who go on pilgrimage to Mecca and elsewhere.

Non-Muslim Japanese people have to take a group tour that meets strict requirements, in order to enter Saudi Arabia for sightseeing. Jiji Press