The Saudi Tourism Authority (STA) and JCB International Co., Ltd. (JCB) have achieved a historic partnership to increase tourism in Saudi Arabia among JCB cardmembers worldwide. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on October 15, 2023, and marks a crucial milestone in the two institutions' relationship.
The partnership with JCB is anticipated to unlock various opportunities for cooperation between Saudi and Japan. Notably, Japan is one of the 57 countries eligible for Saudi's e-visa and visa on arrival, with special benefits such as a free one-night hotel stay for tourists flying onwards on SAUDIA as part of Saudi's 96-hour Stopover Visa program, as per jcnnewswire.
Alhasan Aldabbagh, President of Asia Pacific Markets at Saudi Tourism Authority (STA), said: "We are thrilled to partner with JCB International, a global leader in payment and technology. This is a great opportunity for our tourism industry, as it will offer more convenience, familiarity, and security for Japanese travelers and other Asian tourists who prefer to use cashless payment methods. We believe this collaboration will enhance the appeal of Saudi as a destination for international visitors and support our vision of becoming a leading global tourism hub."
Other significant initiatives include the VisitSaudi.ja Japanese portal and cooperative marketing activities with top tourism trade partners to generate enthusiasm throughout the year. Japanese tourists may also take advantage of unique hotel offerings from local Destination Management Companies (DMC), with appealing prices allowing them to explore the authentic Arabia on their own terms.