The STA & IPL partnership is deepening ties between Saudi Arabia and India, so much so that Saudi Arabia is set to welcome two million visitors from India this year and India is expected to become its largest tourism source market by 2030.

Cooperation between the Saudi Tourism Authority (STA) and the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) has strengthened relations between Saudi Arabia and India and contributed to the incredible potential of sport and tourism to unite people.

In a press statement, the STA says that two million Indian tourists are scheduled to travel to Saudi Arabia this year, and by 2030, India is anticipated to be the country’s largest source market for tourists.

According to STA, travellers from India are eligible for the new Stopover Visa, which was established earlier this year and allows passengers flying on Saudia or Flynas to a final destination to visit Saudi Arabia for up to 96 hours, including a complimentary hotel night for Saudia customers. Additionally, Indian citizens with valid passports who have travelled on a UK, US, or Schengen visa at least once can now apply online for a Saudi e-visa.

STA says that it is tapping into the strong Indian sports fanbase, especially IPL’s immense global audience, to boost awareness of Saudi as a new year-round destination for Indian travellers, especially young people. The strategic partnership is broadening how India and Saudi are engaging with similarly overwhelmingly young demographics – with more than half of both populations below the age of thirty.

“Partnerships like the IPL are a key pillar of Saudi’s tourism strategy as they bring fans, athletes, and nations together while sparking curiosity from those that may want to be among the first to visit Saudi as a destination,” says Alhasan Aldabbagh, APAC President of Saudi Tourism Authority.

These developments, says the statement, follow the rapid advancements in air connectivity between India and the Kingdom with seven direct carriers in operation – Saudia, Flynas, Air India, Air India Express, Indigo Airlines, Spice Jet and Vistara and the recently launched route between Jeddah and Ahmedabad by Indigo airlines which increases the accessibility between the two countries. The expansion is part of Saudi’s air connectivity program and will turn Riyadh into a global hub that will be able to accommodate 120 million passengers in the next seven years.

STA adds that Saudi has a fast-growing love for cricket and this collaboration will not only strengthen Saudi’s commitment to India as an important market but also seeks to broaden Saudi’s association with cricket – with the Saudi Vision 2030 plan aiming to increase community participation in sports from 13 pc to 40 pc by 2030.

STA goes on to say that the country is home to six UNESCO World Heritage sites like nowhere else in the world. The ancient city of AlUla is the world’s largest living museum, holding 200,000 years of largely unexplored human history with vast canyons, rock-cut tombs and stunning landscapes, along with world-class restaurants and trailblazing luxury resorts. Saudi’s diverse landscape can be enjoyed year-round, from the cool, green highlands of Asir where the locals holiday in the summer to the pristine waters of Saudi’s 1,700km long Red Sea coast where visitors can swim amongst rare fish and the world’s fourth-largest coral reef.