Home Tourism India-Saudi Arabia Tourism Diplomacy

India-Saudi Arabia Tourism Diplomacy

Tourism in Saudi Arabia has aroused splendid hobby within the closing decade. Investments in catering and pipeline shipping are considerable. India and Saudi Arabia revel in cordial and friendly members of the family reflecting the centuries-old economic and socio-cultural ties. The status quo of diplomatic relations in 1947 turned into followed with the aid of excessive-degree visits from both aspects. King Saud visited India in 1955 and the Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru visited the dominion in 1956. In the 2006 visit of King Abdullah to India, Saudi Arabia and India signed the “Delhi Declaration” supplying a sparkling momentum to the bilateral relationship. The reciprocal visit by way of Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh to Saudi Arabia in 2010 raised the level of bilateral engagement to “Strategic Partnership” and the “Riyadh Assertion” signed all through the visit captured the spirit of improved cooperation in political, economic, security and defence geographical regions.

In February 2014, in the course of the visit of His Royal Highness Crown Prince Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia to India, a Joint assertion became issued. In November 2015, at the sidelines of the G20 meeting in Antalya, Turkey, Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi met with the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and mentioned regions of the bilateral hobby.

India has participated as ‘visitor of honour’ within the thirty-second version of the distinguished Saudi country-wide competition of historical past and lifestyle – Janadriyah from February 7 – 28, 2018. The then External Affairs Minister Smt. Sushma Swaraj mutually inaugurated the India Pavilion along with His Majesty King Salman. 

The Ministry of Commerce in Saudi Arabia announced Yoga as a ‘sports activity’ in November 2017. Due to the fact then, the Embassy has been organizing the global Yoga Day (IDY) celebrations in open vicinity inside the centre of Riyadh. The IDY 2018 and IDY 2019 witnessed the participation of a large number of Saudi nationals, especially the young people, similarly to the diplomatic corps, reporters, and Indian diaspora. Thinking about the COVID pandemic situation, IDY 2020 celebrations protected an “Inaugural Consultation” with the Minister of the Kingdom, AYUSH & Defence Shri. Shripad Yesso Naik as a chief visitor.

Hajj pilgrimage tourism is some other important component of bilateral members of the family. The Hajj Quota changed into improved through 24,975 in 2019, permitting 2,00,000 Indians to perform Hajj in August 2019. Minority Affairs Minister Shri Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and Hajj and Umrah Minister of Saudi Arabia Mr. Mohammed income bin Taser Benten signed the yearly Bilateral Hajj 2020 settlement in December 2019 making India the first in the world to make the complete Hajj procedure virtual. it might permit whole digitization of the Hajj technique by means of offering  Hajj cellular app, health facility -“e-MASIHA”, “e-bags pre-tagging” and HGOs  (Hajj organization Organisers) related with the digital device.  However, due to the COVID pandemic, the Saudi authorities have decided to arrange Hajj 2020 in a constrained way.

Indian Community in Saudi Arabia

In Saudi Arabia the expatriate Indian populace becomes approximately 1.54 billion in 2017-18 which has been raid to 2.6 billion in August 2019, Indian expatriate populace stands second. India has deliberate to make investments inside the many enjoyment sectors like cinema, constructing up a leisure park at Riyadh, and developing the coral coastal line along the red Sea.

There exists a good bond of relationship in import and exports many of the international locations. Saudi Arabia is one of the most important marketplaces for Indian exports and ranks the 3rd largest supply for import. With regard to Saudi Arabia, India acts as the 7th biggest source for its import and 4th biggest marketplace for its export, which can, directly and indirectly, increase the tourism between the nations. Many MoU’s were signed among India and Saudi Arabia in the development of infrastructure and heritage tourism during the Prince’s visit to India in February 2019. Hereby there exists neat and expert bondage among the nations selling their travel and tourism.

Indian Network in Saudi Arabia

The 2.96 million-plus sturdy Indian community in Saudi Arabia is the biggest expatriate network in the country and is the most desired network due to their know-how, sense of the field, regulation abiding, and peace-loving nature. The contribution made by the Indian community to the improvement of Saudi Arabia is well stated. In April 2013, His Majesty King Abdullah announced a grace length permitting overstaying expatriates to accurate the popularity, get new jobs or go away without going through penal action till the end of the grace period i.e. November 3, 2013. The Haj pilgrimage is some other essential issue of bilateral family members at some point of Hajj 2015, around 136,000 Indians visited the kingdom to carry out Haj, approximately 300,000 Indians carry out Umrah every year. 

The healthy relations between the nations will enhance the future policies of tourism, boost the overall development of the tourism industry.