The Indian Embassy hosted a tourism promotion event in Riyadh as part of ongoing efforts to expand travel and aviation links with Saudi Arabia.
The program, organized by the Ministry of Tourism, brought together Saudi travel companies and Indian tour operators and airlines, including IndiGo and Air India, to discuss commercial cooperation and route connectivity.
Indian Ambassador Dr Suhel Ajaz Khan said travel between the two countries has continued to rise in recent years, alongside wider India-Saudi engagement driven by historical and people-to-people links. He said Saudi visitors were being encouraged to travel to India for leisure, adventure and religious tourism.
Presentations at the event focused on Maharashtra and Rajasthan, highlighting heritage tourism and historic cities. Cultural performances and a culinary session were held, with Chef Sanjay Thakur discussing food traditions shaped by historic trade between India and the Arabian Peninsula.
Embassy officials also outlined visa procedures, noting that Saudi nationals have had access to India’s e-visa system since 2023.
India has 44 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Direct flights currently operate between eight Indian cities and Saudi Arabia. In April 2025, both countries formed a Ministerial Committee on Tourism and Culture under the Strategic Partnership Council to coordinate tourism and cultural cooperation.