- The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has said the new unified tourist visa’s name is “GCC Grand Tours.”
- The new visa will permit travelers to stay in Gulf countries for up to 30 days.
- “GCC Grand Tours” is expected to bring a significant number of tourists, thus leading to further economic growth.
GCC Grand Tours” will be the name of the new unified tourist visa of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which will allow tourists to spend more than 30 days in all six Gulf countries.
The “GCC Grand Tours” new visa has been announced by the United Arab Emirates Minister of Economy, Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, during the opening of the annual travel and tourism event Arabian Travel Market (ATM) that began this Monday, VisaGuide.World reports.
In a significant move to simplify travel logistics and support tourism, the Gulf Cooperation Council has given the green light for a unified tourist visa that will allow travelers to visit all six countries. Thanks to the GCC “Grand Tours” that we are working on and intend to complete, we will enable tourists to spend over 30 days in the region.UAE Minister of Economy, Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri
The Minister said that once it becomes effective, the new tourist visa will contribute to increasing the number of hotel guests and making the region one of the leading destinations for regional and international tourists.
His comments came following a panel discussion between the chairman of the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority, Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, as well as the CEO of the Saudi Tourism Authority, Fahd Hamidaddin, Undersecretary of Tourism at the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism in Oman, Azzan al Busaidi, and Sarah Buhijji, CEO of the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority.
The panelists discussed the importance of inter-regional initiatives in elevating the tourism sector in GCC countries – Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates – to the next level.
GCC’s Tourist Visa to Be Similar to the Schengen Visa
In October last year, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states unanimously approved a GCC tourist visa similar to the EU’s Schengen one, in a bid to help the further economic growth in this region.
The decision was confirmed by Oman’s Minister of Heritage and Tourism, Salem bin Mohammed Al Mahrooq, with the GCC tourism minister seeking feedback by December 2023.
In April this year, the UAE Minister of Economy, Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri emphasized that Gulf countries are continuing to work to launch a unified tourist visa.
Al Marri said that the unified GCC tourist visa is an important tool in attracting international tourists.
Once it comes into effect, it will contribute to highlighting the diverse tourism destinations in GCC countries, attracting and retaining tourists for longer periods.UAE Minister of Economy Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri
According to UAE authorities, the GCC states might reach a record number of a total of 128.7 million visitors by 2030 once the new visa becomes effective.
