(MENAFN- The Peninsula) Expatriates in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries may soon be able to travel across the region after the introduction of a unified tourist visa system.
A proposal to issue common tourist visa to expatriates for GCC countries other than the one where they and their families are based is on the agenda of a ministerial meeting.
The meeting of tourism ministers of the GCC states is slated to be held in Kuwait tomorrow, Qatar News Agency (QNA) reported yesterday.
The idea behind easing the mobility of expatriates within the region strictly for visits is to help boost intra-GCC tourism in a big way.
Intra-GCC tourism has grown substantially, generating big revenues for member-countries, since the onset of the Arab Spring.
And this has inspired the member-states to think in terms of taking fresh initiatives jointly for tourism promotion.
The GCC states first thought of promoting regional tourism in 2002 and, in fact, set up a tourism cooperation committee at the time.
The meeting in Kuwait is being organised by the Ministry of Trade and Industry and it is likely the progress the committee has made till date may come up for a debate at this forum.
It was recently decided that to promote regional tourism, GCC ministers-in-charge of tourism promotion must meet regularly.
According to QNA, the Kuwait meeting is being held in this context. It is possible the meeting may also discuss the unified laws needed if regional efforts to boost tourism are required.
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