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 travelling to the Kingdom.
De Lille hosted the Saudi Arabian Minister in Pretoria on Wednesday during his official visit to South Africa.
Every year, thousands of South African pilgrims and Umrah visitors travel to the Kingdom for religious purposes.
“South Africa and Saudi Arabia already have an important connection through the thousands of South African Muslims who travel for Hajj and Umrah.
“We now have an opportunity to build on that relationship by encouraging greater two-way travel, strengthening connectivity and introducing more Saudi travellers to the diversity of experiences that South Africa has to offer,” de Lille said.
Additionally, South African Tourism will also build seasonal packages that will be marketed to Saudi travellers.
Closer cooperation
During the visit, the ministers also discussed closer cooperation between the tourism sectors of both countries, including:
- Destination promotion.
- Skills development.
- Showcasing South Africa’s rich Islamic heritage and Halaal tourism offering.
The push towards expanding relations comes on the back of rising travel statistics on both sides.
Over the past year, some 56 000 South Africans travelled to Saudi Arabia for Umrah, representing a 10% year-on-year increase.
Simultaneously, inbound travel from Saudi Arabia to South Africa has surged from 5 461 visitors in 2021 to 24 942 in 2025.
“This growth means a great deal to us. Our priority is to listen to South African pilgrims, Umrah visitors and service providers, understand their needs, and work together to make their journey more accessible, seamless and enriching.
“Travel brings people closer together. Hajj and Umrah have connected South Africa and Saudi Arabia for generations, and we look forward to building on this historic connection to further strengthen the relationship between our two countries,” Al-Rabiah said. – SAnews.gov.za
