TOURISM INDIA MARCH 2019 TOURISM INDIA MARCH 2019 | Page 11

Kerala’s tourism will benefit from
e-visa facilities to Saudi national
Mr. Kadakampally Surendran, Kerala
Tourism Minister welcomed the joint
decision of India and Saudi Arabia to
extend e-visa facilities to Saudi nationals
and also to simplify the travel document
procedures of tourists.
The decision, taken at a meeting
between Prime Minister Shri Narendra
Modi and Saudi Crown Prince
Mohammed bin Salman in New Delhi
would give a huge fillip to Kerala’s
tourism, he noted.
The minister said the state’s tourism
department had been demanding for the
past two and a half years the withdrawal
of the biometric visa system introduced
by the Union government for the Saudi
citizens visiting India.
Besides England and the USA, Saudi
Arabia is among the leading countries in
C
abinet approves signing of
MoU between India and Saudi
Arabia in the field of tourism.
India and Saudi Arabia have
enjoyed a strong diplomatic and long
economic relationship and now signed
a Memorandum of Understanding
between the Ministry of Tourism,
Government of the Republic of India
and the Saudi Commission for Tourism
and National Heritage of the Kingdom
of Saudi Arabia for strengthening
cooperation in the field of Tourism.
The Union Cabinet, chaired by the
Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi, has
approved the signing of Memorandum
of Understanding between the
Ministry of Tourism, Government of
the Republic of India and the Saudi
Commission for Tourism and National
Heritage of the Kingdom of Saudi .
Exchanging information and
terms of tourist arrivals to Kerala.
Kerala Tourism has been organising
several promotional campaigns,
including roadshows, in Saudi
Arabia. However, the introduction
of biometric enrolment visa for
Saudi nationals has dealt a major
blow to Kerala’s tourism.
“The latest announcement will
remove this major irritant,” the
minister said.
In this context, Mr Surendran
pointed out that the tourists from
Saudi Arabia have a special liking
for Kerala’s tourism products
such as backwaters, hill stations,
Ayurveda and monsoon.
On an average, 50,000 Saudi
tourists visit Kerala annually.
“A major leap in the arrival
figures can be expected because
of the introduction of e visa
facilities,” he added.
expertise in Legislations in the
tourism development, Hotels,
resorts and tourist accommodation
facilities, Tourism data and statistics,
Exhibition events and other tourism
activities in States of the Parties,
Tourism development, planning and
investment; Licensing, operating
and marketing tourism facilities,
Agricultural Tourism, Desert tourism
etc.Exchanging media publications,
tourism related films, and encourage
exchanging of visits between experts
and tourism media representatives in
the States of the Parties. Introducing
tourism investment opportunities
available in the States of the Parties;
encourage mutual tourism investment
in tourism projects. Encouraging
organizing joint tourism events;
participate in exhibitions, conferences
and seminars held in the States of the
MR. KADAKAMPALLY
SURENDRAN
Minister for Tourism,
Government of Kerala.
Parties thus contributing to tourism
development and crystalizing a joint
tourism vision.Encouraging public
and private education facilities
working in tourism education and
training field in the States of the
Parties. Exchanging innovative
experiences and technologies in
the tourism field, and consultation
services, Cooperation and
coordinating in international
forums and organizations
concerned with tourism affairs
are the main objectives of the
Memorandum of Understanding.
Saudi Arabia is one of the
potential tourist generating
market for India from Middle East.
The signing of Memorandum of
Understanding with Saudi Arabia
will be instrumental in increasing
arrival from this source market.
Mr. Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India and Mr. Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince of Kingdom of Saudi in New Delhi
March 2019 Tourism India
11