Industry executives from the travel and tourism sector reveal that these packages, including a few nights' stays, travel, and sightseeing across three Gulf countries, will likely cost visitors between Dh4,000 and Dh5,000 or more.
During a recent ministerial discussion at the Arabian Travel Market, officials indicated that the 'GCC Grand Tours visa could be available by the end of the year. This multi-entry visa will function similarly to the Schengen visa, granting access to all six Gulf countries.
Rehan Asad, vice president for global markets at Expedia, praised the unified GCC tourist visa as a beneficial development for the region. He noted that the Schengen visa greatly enhanced European tourism by allowing seamless travel across multiple countries. Asad believes the new visa will similarly boost intra-country travel and tourism within the Gulf.
Expedia has researched to understand tourists' needs, discovering that children aged 8-14 significantly influence family travel decisions. Based on this research, Expedia plans to offer packages that include hotels, car rentals, and tour activities, initially focusing on the UAE and then expanding to Saudi Arabia. These packages will be dynamic, offering numerous customization options.
Anas Anane, an associate executive at Traveazy, also welcomed the unified visa, highlighting its potential to benefit the travel and tourism sector greatly. He mentioned that tour packages could start at Dh1,500 per person for one country, including flights and sightseeing, with costs varying based on the tourist season. Comprehensive packages covering multiple countries, such as the UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, could range from Dh4,000 to Dh5,000.
Mohammed Farooz, executive secretary at Last Minute Tourism, said many companies are already developing tour packages. His company plans to offer packages that include stays in Dubai, Oman, and Qatar, with bundle offers expected to be 25 percent cheaper than regular packages.
Ross Veitch, CEO and co-founder of Wego, stated that the unified GCC tourist visa would significantly boost inbound tourism, particularly among Chinese visitors. He likened the potential impact to how Chinese tourists often travel through multiple countries in Europe and Southeast Asia. Veitch believes that tourists will adopt similar travel patterns in the Gulf region with the new visa, mixing business and leisure travel post-Covid, further driving the trend.
