South Africa, Saudi Arabia Forge Alliance to Streamline Pilgrimage & Boost Two-Way Travel

South Africa’s Minister of Tourism Patricia de Lille hosted Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Hajj and Umrah, H.E. Dr Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah, for high-level discussions aimed at transforming a historic religious connection into a broader, mutually beneficial tourism partnership. The visit focused on reducing friction for South African pilgrims while aggressively marketing South Africa’s diverse offerings to Saudi travelers.

The engagement moves beyond traditional diplomatic pleasantries, targeting specific operational bottlenecks in the Hajj and Umrah sector. Both ministers agreed to establish a joint working group tasked with implementing recommendations to make pilgrim journeys “accessible, seamless and enriching.”

The Numbers: A Growing Corridor

The economic and social ties between the two nations are already strengthening, driven by significant volume in religious travel.

• Outbound (SA to KSA): Approximately 56,000 South Africans traveled for Umrah last year, representing a 10% year-on-year increase.
• Inbound (KSA to SA): Arrivals from Saudi Arabia have surged from 5,461 in 2021 to 24,942 in 2025, a more than fourfold increase.

Minister Al-Rabiah acknowledged this trajectory, stating, “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.”

Operational Overhaul: Digital Services and Connectivity

A primary focus of the bilateral talks was the practical logistics of travel. The ministers identified three critical areas for immediate intervention:

1. Digital Transition: Supporting the shift to digital services to reduce paperwork and processing times for pilgrims.
2. Air Connectivity: Both sides agreed to encourage airlines in both countries to explore increasing flight frequencies. This is viewed as essential for facilitating the movement of the growing number of Umrah visitors and general tourists.
3. Sector Coordination: Strengthening coordination with tour operators to address existing challenges in the pilgrim experience.

Diversifying the Relationship: Halaal Tourism and Heritage

While Hajj and Umrah remain the anchor of the relationship, Minister de Lille is positioning this partnership as a gateway for broader tourism exchange. She announced that South African Tourism will develop seasonal packages specifically marketed to Saudi travellers.

The discussions highlighted opportunities to showcase:

• Islamic Heritage: South Africa’s rich history, including the Cape Malay culture and historical mosques.
• Halaal Tourism: Promoting SA as a friendly, accessible destination for Muslim travellers.
• Skills Development: Cooperation on training and standards within the tourism sector.

“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,” said Minister de Lille.

Next Steps

The newly formed joint working group will serve as the operational engine for this agreement, tasked with following up on the recommendations arising from the meetings. The visit underscores a strategic shift in SA tourism: leveraging existing religious travel corridors to build a resilient, year-round economic partnership with the Kingdom.