Pretoria: Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille and Saudi Arabia Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dr. Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah, have pledged to strengthen cooperation between the two countries to better serve South African pilgrims and Umrah visitors traveling to the Kingdom. De Lille hosted the Saudi Arabian Minister in Pretoria during his official visit to South Africa.
According to South African Government News Agency, every year, thousands of South African pilgrims and Umrah visitors travel to the Kingdom for religious purposes. South Africa and Saudi Arabia already share a significant connection through these travelers. Minister de Lille emphasized the potential for building on this relationship by encouraging two-way travel, strengthening connectivity, and introducing more Saudi travelers to the diverse experiences South Africa offers. Furthermore, South African Tourism plans to develop seasonal packages for Saudi travelers.
During the visit, the ministers discussed closer cooperation between their tourism sectors, focusing on destination promotion, skills development, and showcasing South Africa's Islamic heritage and Halaal tourism offerings. The push for expanded relations follows rising travel statistics, with a 10% increase in South Africans traveling for Umrah and a significant surge in Saudi visitors to South Africa over recent years.
Dr. Al-Rabiah highlighted the importance of understanding the needs of South African pilgrims and Umrah visitors to make their journeys more accessible and enriching. He noted that Hajj and Umrah have historically connected the two nations, and there is great potential to strengthen this relationship further.