Khaleeji Schengen: Keenly awaited unified GCCtourist visa will become a reality this year

Unified visa is one of the important tourism projects of GCC countries

NT Bureau

DOHA: The unified Gulf tourist visa is in the final stages of planning among the concerned authorities in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and may see the light of day at the end of this year, Saad bin Ali Al Kharji, President of Qatar Tourism, has revealed.

The unified Gulf tourist visa is one of the important tourism projects for the GCC countries which facilitates the movement of residents and tourists between the GCC countries with only one visa.

During their 40th meeting in Muscat, the Interior Ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries approved the unified Gulf tourist visa project, in order to contribute to facilitating and streamlining the movement of residents and tourists between the six GCC countries.

The new visa will allow its holder to visit the six countries with a single tourist visa, as it focuses on attracting tourists and keeping them in the Gulf countries for a longer period, which will enhance Gulf economic integration.

Speaking to Qatar TV, Qatar Tourism President said that work is being done to implement the project and is now in the final stages.

Al-Kharji pointed out that it was discussed in detail at the meeting of tourism ministers of the GCC countries, which Doha recently hosted, and Qatar Tourism was tasked with submitting a trial proposal before it was officially approved.

Al-Kharji said: “We will apply this project so that tourists can move comfortably in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, and our goal is not to promote the State of Qatar, but the whole region, and it does reflect positively on everyone. And will see the light of day at the end of the year.”