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Gulf Countries to Promote Tourism: GCC Zone Visa and Bold Tourism Plan Announced


 

Several Gulf nations have united in a significant step to advance the tourist industry in the area. By December, the member nations of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which include Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman, are set to be connected by the much-anticipated "GCC Zone" unified visa.

This historic decision was made at the GCC tourism ministers' 7th meeting, which was held in Oman. Salim Mohammed Al Mahrouqi, Oman's Minister of Heritage and Tourism, expressed his optimism, saying that these nations are positioned to develop into a "tourism bloc of excellence." The unanimous support for this plan demonstrates the group's shared commitment to promoting regional tourism collaboration.

At a summit in Dubai in May 2023, ministers from the GCC countries expressed their ideas for promoting traveling across borders similar to that in Europe. This discussion led to the creation of the GCC Zone visa. The interconnection of the Gulf states was also stressed by UAE Economy Minister Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, who said, "What's good for Saudi is good for the GCC; if the tide comes up, it pulls up all the boats." The summit also covered strategies for a complete "Gulf Strategy for Tourism 2023–2030" and the creation of a GCC Tourism Statistics Platform, demonstrating the region's dedication to maximizing its tourist potential.

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