Riyadh: Saudi Arabia announced Friday, he would reopen his border for foreign tourists who were fully vaccinated after the 17-month closure due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the state news agency said.
However, Riyadh did not announce any understanding of restrictions on Umrah, pilgrimage that can be done at any time, which usually attracts millions of Muslims from around the world every year.
“The Ministry of Tourism announces that the kingdom will open the door for foreign tourists, and appoint …
suspension of entry for tourist visa holders, starting from August 1,” reported Saudi press agents.
He said the travelers who were fully vaccinated with the Saudi-approved Jabs – Pfizer, Astrazeneca, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson – would be able to enter the kingdom “without the need for institutional quarantine periods”, provided they also have negative PCR evidence.
Covid-19 tests are taken in the last 72 hours and register their details with health authorities.
Riyadh has spent billions trying to build the tourism industry from the start, as part of an effort to diversify its oil and gas economy.
The kingdom which once began to issue a tourist visa for the first time in 2019, some of the ambitious encouragement to change its global image and attract visitors.
Between September 2019 and March 2020, it was issued 400,000 – only for a pandemic to destroy the momentum because Borders were closed.
Covid-19 is also very disturbed by the Umrah pilgrimage and pilgrimage, usually earning the main income for the kingdom – in normal times, they together sweep around $ 12 billion (10.3 billion euros) every year.
At present only the residents of pilgrims are immunized in Saudi Arabia who qualify for Umrah’s permission.
The government has accelerated the drive of the national vaccination while moving to revive tourism and sports hosts extravaganzas, all sectors hit pandemic.
So far, 26 million jab has been given to a population of 35 million, and the kingdom has said that from August 1, vaccination will be required to enter government and private companies, including educational institutions and entertainment venues, and to use the public transporting.
Saudi Arabia has registered more than 523,000 cases of Coronavirus, with 8,213 deaths.