The Supreme Commission for Tourism (SCT) in Saudi Arabia has started issuing group visas through tour operators for foreigners intending to visit the kingdom.

'Tourist visas can be obtained for a maximum of 60 days,' director general for licenses and quality at SCT Ahmed Al Eissa is quoted to have said in a report in the Arab News.

'Generally visas are issued in accordance with the tour programme,' he added.

Spelling out the conditions for obtaining tourist visas, the report said tourists should come in groups of not less than five members. The minimum age for women to get visas is 30 if they are not traveling with their close relatives.

The kingdom has started receiving tourists who come by cruise lines, the report added.

'Tourist ships intending to visit the kingdom must coordinate with organisations licensed by the commission,' Eissa added in the report.

The tourism sector, along with Haj and Umrah services, currently contributes six per cent of the kingdom's GDP or SR55 billion ($14.6 billion) annually.