Staff Correspondent, Dhaka:
Saudi Arabia has placed Bangladesh among the first six countries eligible for its newly launched Visa Package, a move that reflects the Kingdom’s evolving tourism strategy and opens new opportunities for Bangladeshi leisure travelers. Alongside Bangladesh, the initial phase of the program includes Jordan, Egypt, India, Indonesia and Mexico, allowing eligible visitors to obtain an electronic tourist visa as part of a bundled travel booking instead of applying separately through traditional visa channels.
The initiative is another step in Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 plan to diversify its economy by expanding the tourism sector beyond its traditional focus on Hajj and Umrah. By integrating flights, hotel accommodation and visa processing into a single digital booking system, the Kingdom aims to simplify travel procedures while encouraging more international visitors to explore its growing portfolio of cultural, heritage and leisure destinations.
Under the program, travelers who purchase an approved package through authorized travel agencies can receive their electronic tourist visa within 48 hours. The package includes a confirmed round-trip flight, accommodation at a Ministry of Tourism-licensed hotel with a minimum four-star rating, travel insurance and the electronic visa. The visa is valid for three months and allows a stay of between two and 88 days. Although the package does not include Umrah arrangements, visitors are permitted to travel throughout Saudi Arabia, including Makkah and Madinah, after entering the country.
For Bangladesh, inclusion in the first phase carries strategic significance. While Saudi Arabia has long been one of the most important destinations for Bangladeshi migrant workers and religious pilgrims, the new initiative could gradually promote leisure tourism and broaden travel options. It also presents new business opportunities for Bangladeshi travel agencies to develop holiday packages centered on Saudi Arabia’s expanding tourism attractions, including Riyadh, Jeddah, AlUla and the Red Sea coast.
However, the package’s minimum price of SR4,000 for the first two days, with additional charges for extended stays, means the program will initially appeal mainly to middle- and higher-income travelers. Even so, Bangladesh’s early inclusion demonstrates Saudi Arabia’s confidence in the country as a promising outbound travel market. As the Kingdom continues investing heavily in tourism infrastructure and global events, the Visa Package could strengthen tourism ties between the two countries while making travel to Saudi Arabia faster, more convenient and entirely digital for eligible Bangladeshi visitors.
