Ministry of Tourism Launches Saudi Travel Festival in Beijing

Led by the Saudi Ministry of Tourism, the Saudi Travel Festival launched in Beijing with the hopes of attracting Chinese visitors to the Kingdom. Running from October 17th to the 26th, the festival features interactive booths, live performances and travel promotions to spotlight Saudi culture and heritage, including traditional sadu weaving, and lifelike representations of iconic landmarks like Diriyah and AlUla.

To enhance accessibility, a WeChat mini program offers Mandarin-speaking travel assistance, and UnionPay provides seamless payment solutions. An e-visa system has also been introduced to simplify the visa process.

The number of Chinese tourists to Saudi Arabia has doubled between 2023 and 2024. Connectivity has improved with direct flights linking major Chinese cities to Saudi destinations. A new Cathay Pacific route from Hong Kong to Riyadh will launch on October 28th, further facilitating travel between the two countries.