South Africa and Saudi Arabia to boost tourism and pilgrimage ties

South African Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille and Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dr Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah, have pledged to strengthen bilateral cooperation to improve services for pilgrims and boost two-way tourism.

Key developments from the discussions in Pretoria include the expected resumption of direct flights by Saudia to South Africa in 2027. Efforts to streamline travel include the digitization of processes via the Nusuk system and a goal to reduce South African visa application turnaround times to approximately 24 hours.

Both nations aim to increase connectivity and promote destination exchange. South African Tourism plans to develop seasonal packages for Saudi travelers, while discussions also covered skills development and showcasing South Africa’s Islamic heritage and halal tourism. Recent statistics show a growing trend in travel, with 56,000 South Africans traveling to Saudi Arabia for Umrah last year and inbound Saudi visitors to South Africa reaching nearly 25,000 in 2025. A joint working group will be established to follow up on these initiatives.