Regulations governing tourist visas to Saudi Arabia have been completed and submitted to the government for approval, according to the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTH).

According to an SCTH official, an announcement from the Saudi government is expected soon.

In a statement, the SCTH said that the regulations were reviewed in a series of meetings and workshops held with relevant government institutions, with inputs from investors, tourism and transport professionals and service providers.

Additionally, Saudi authorities have developed an integrated electronic system to process and record visa transactions, under the supervision of a team headed by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology.

“The kingdom, as the cradle of Islam, possesses an unparalleled cultural heritage, and is growing a tourism industry rich in natural, cultural and purely touristic destinations,” SCTH President Prince Sultan bin Salman has previously said. “On top of that, the Saudi people have a long tradition of showing great generosity, hospitality and warn welcomes to people from around the world.”

Saudi Arabia plans to nearly double the number of incoming travellers to 30 million within the next 12 years, up from 18 million in 2016 when it earned $11.9bn in tourism receipts, primarily from visitors in the kingdom to perform Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages.

Currently, approximately 900,000 Saudis work in the travel and tourism sector.