JEDDAH. Saudi Arabia, Oct 10, (Agencies): In a bid to stimulate economic growth across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, plans are underway to introduce a Unified Gulf visa system, akin to the Schengen-style visa, aimed at tourists. This initiative, reported by Oman's Minister of Tourism, is set to simplify travel for visitors to GCC member states, which include Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, and Qatar. Travelers will soon be able to explore multiple countries within the region using a single visa.

The proposal for a unified Gulf visa has gained unanimous approval from GCC ministers of tourism, and they have invited feedback on the plan, with a deadline set for December. Oman's Minister of Heritage and Tourism, Salim Mohammed al Mahrouqi, shared his enthusiasm about this development during the seventh meeting of GCC tourism ministers, which was chaired by Oman.

Minister al Mahrouqi stated, "The common tourism visa for the Gulf Cooperation Council is coming very soon," highlighting the unanimous agreement on its importance. He expressed confidence in the forthcoming discussions that will lead to a comprehensive agreement on the unified visa.

The primary objective of the meeting was to enhance cooperation and promote tourism development within the GCC. Minister al Mahrouqi emphasized the broader goals, saying, "We aim to uplift the GCC's tourism status, enrich our national economies, and meet our people's aspirations."

During the meeting, discussions also centered on the creation of a GCC Tourism Statistics Platform. Notably, the ministers approved the Gulf Strategy for Tourism 2023-2030, underscoring their commitment to implementing this strategy effectively through regular progress reports.

Recognizing the substantial potential of tourism in the Gulf peninsula, Jassim Mohammed al Budaiwi, GCC Secretary-General, pointed out that it plays a vital role in sustainable development. He highlighted the presence of 17 UNESCO World Heritage sites across GCC states.

Al Budaiwi shared encouraging statistics, revealing that 2022 saw a record-breaking 39.8 million tourists visiting the GCC, marking a remarkable 136.6% increase compared to the previous year. Tourist spending also surged to USD 85.9 billion, representing a growth of 101.2%. Intra-GCC tourism constituted 29.7% of the total tourist numbers, marking a 98.8% increase compared to 2021.

Looking ahead, the GCC Tourism Strategy has ambitious goals, including an annual 7% increase in tourist arrivals until 2030. The strategy aims to boost inbound tourist spending by 8% and domestic tourist expenditure by 2.4% during this period, with a key objective being a 7% annual increase in direct GDP until 2030.

Ahmed Aqeel al-Khatib, Saudi Minister of Tourism, emphasized the importance of a joint vision, stating, "We're considering establishing a unified Gulf statistics center and a common tourist visa system. With coordinated efforts, the GCC is poised to capture a significant share of the global travel market."

Concluding the meeting, a proposal titled "Our Gulf, the Birthplace of Civilizations" was introduced, with member states expected to finalize their contributions by the end of 2023, as reported by ONA.