Albania to issue on arrival visas to Saudi tourists during summer

RIYADH: During the summer holidays, Albania will issue on arrival visas to Saudi tourists, the country’s Ambassador Sami Shiba told Arab News on Wednesday.
Shiba said that the new system is being introduced to attract more Saudi tourists to his country.
“During the summer, Saudi citizens can travel to Albania without visas, without having to obtain a visa at the Embassy of Albania,” Shiba said. “Travel can be done with their passports.”
Entry visas will be given for a period three months to stay in Albania. He urged Saudis to seize this opportunity to visit Tirana for business or leisure.
He pointed out that many Saudis are going to Tirana to spend their holidays for leisure or on business. He said that his tourism department has made special arrangements to look after Saudis’ interests during their period of stay in the country. He also said there are no direct flights to Tirana from Riyadh. However, he said that there are convenient connections to Albania from the Kingdom via Doba with Qatar Airways.
Albania, he said, is a safe country. Albanians are very open toward foreigners. Hospitality is an old Albanian tradition. Foreigners are always treated with special respect.
The ambassador said Albania is rich with traditions and folklore and visitors will be able to enjoy this wealth inherited over the centuries that still continues to blossom nowadays.
He said during 2016, Albania recorded over 4.7 million tourists.
Shiba said the two countries enjoy friendly relations and Albania is keen on developing relations in various fields under the new transformation plan in line with the Vision 2030.