GCC: 'Grand Tours' Visa Invites Visitors To Explore Multiple Gulf Countries For Dh4,000

UAE has tried to make something similar to a Schengen visa. The visa will give access to all the six countries.

Travel agencies in the UAE and abroad are gearing up to introduce exciting packages for tourists visiting the Gulf region ahead of the launch of the unified GCC tourist visa, also known as the GCC 'Grand Tours' visa. These packages, expected to include a few nights' stay, travel, and sightseeing in three regional countries, are estimated to cost visitors around Dh4,000-Dh5,000 and above.

During a ministerial discussion at the Arabian Travel Market, officials indicated that the 'GCC Grand Tours visa could be implemented by the end of this year. This multi-entry visa, similar to the Schengen visa, will grant access to all six Gulf countries.

Rehan Asad, Vice President for Global Markets at Expedia, described the unified GCC tourist visa as a positive change for the region, comparing it to the impact of the Schengen visa on Europe's tourism sector. He highlighted the potential for increased intra-country traffic between the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Oman, driving tourism growth.

Expedia has researched to understand travellers' needs for GCC tours. Asad noted that children aged 8-14 play a crucial role in destination and hotel selection for families. Based on this research, Expedia plans to offer dynamic packages, including hotels, cars, and tour activities.

Anas Anane, Associate Executive at Traveazy, expressed enthusiasm for the unified GCC tourist visa, foreseeing significant advantages in the travel and tourism sector. Traveazy plans to offer packages starting from Dh1,500 per person for one country, with costs varying based on the GCC countries' peak or off-peak tourist season.

Mohammed Farooz, Executive Secretary at Last Minute Tourism, revealed plans for tour packages covering Dubai, Oman, and Qatar, offering three nights each in Dubai and Oman or three nights each in Dubai and Qatar. These bundle offers are expected to be 25% cheaper than regular packages.

Ross Veitch, CEO and Co-Founder of Wego believes that the unified GCC tourist visa will greatly benefit inbound tourism and regional residents, making the region more popular, especially among Chinese visitors. He anticipates tourists will follow a similar pattern as seen in Southeast Asia, where visitors land in one country and travel to multiple regional destinations.

Overall, the unified GCC tourist visa is expected to boost tourism in the Gulf region, offering travellers a seamless and exciting way to explore multiple countries in one visit.

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