RezLive.com, in collaboration with the Saudi Tourism Authority, hosted an exclusive Saudi roadshow in Bengaluru on August 21, 2026, highlighting Saudi Arabia’s growing potential in the Indian market.
During the event, Voyager’s World spoke to Gaurav Khandelwal, Vice President Sales – India and Nepal, RezLive, in an interview about Saudi Arabia’s evolving tourism landscape, its appeal among Indian travellers, and opportunities across leisure, MICE and weddings.
Rezlive has partnered with Saudi Tourism for this multicity roadshow. What was the key idea behind taking this initiative to the Indian travel trade?
The objective is to build awareness of Saudi Arabia as an emerging destination for Indian travellers and to showcase the many experiences the country has to offer. His Life, in collaboration with Saudi Tourism, has been conducting a multi-city series of trade events to bring the destination closer to travel agents and tour operators. There is a need to go beyond the traditional understanding of Saudi Arabia and highlight its leisure, luxury, cultural, entertainment and MICE offerings. These roadshows allow us to interact directly with the trade and explain the destination in greater detail.
From what you have seen and heard during the roadshows, what aspects of Saudi Arabia are generating the most interest among Indian travel professionals?
There is a lot of interest in the diversity of the destination. Saudi Arabia is not limited to one type of tourism. Places such as Al Ula and the Red Sea offer very different experiences, from heritage and nature to luxury and leisure. Religious tourism also remains important for Indian travellers. When you bring all these elements together, Saudi Arabia becomes a destination that can appeal to multiple segments.
How do you see Saudi Arabia positioning itself against other established destinations in the Middle East that are already popular with Indian travellers?
Saudi Arabia has the advantage of being relatively new in terms of its positioning as a leisure destination for the Indian market. It has the opportunity to offer travellers something different and fresh. The destination is investing heavily in tourism infrastructure, new hotels, entertainment and experiences. For Indian travellers who have already visited some of the traditional Middle Eastern destinations, Saudi Arabia can provide a new and different holiday proposition.
MICE and incentive travel are important segments for Indian outbound tourism. What makes Saudi Arabia suitable for corporate groups and incentive programmes?
The destination has a strong proposition for MICE. There is considerable new hotel inventory, including international and branded properties, along with venues suitable for conferences, corporate events and incentive groups. Another advantage is the combination of business and leisure. A corporate group can attend meetings or conferences while also experiencing the destination’s cultural, entertainment and leisure offerings. This makes Saudi Arabia an interesting option for incentive travel as well.
Destination weddings are another area where Indian travellers are increasingly looking for unique international locations. How prepared is Saudi Arabia to cater to the specific requirements of Indian weddings?
Saudi Arabia has a lot of potential in this segment. Indian weddings are already happening there, and the destination has the hotels and infrastructure required for large-scale celebrations. For Indian weddings, food and cultural requirements are extremely important. Saudi Arabia can accommodate Indian cuisine, Jain food and traditional requirements such as puja and havan. These facilities make it easier for wedding planners and families to consider the destination for celebrations.
One topic that often comes up when discussing Saudi Arabia with Indian travellers is the absence of alcohol. Do you think this remains a major barrier to the destination’s growth?
It is certainly a question that comes up frequently, but I do not believe it should be a major barrier. Alcohol is not available, but Saudi Arabia offers so much more. There are concerts, entertainment, cultural experiences and several leisure activities. The destination has a growing tourism ecosystem, and travellers should look at the overall experience rather than focus on one aspect. Liquor should not be a showstopper.
What role does the travel trade play in changing this perception and presenting Saudi Arabia in a different light to consumers?
The travel trade plays a very important role. Agents and tour operators are the first point of contact for many travellers when they are deciding where to go. If they understand the destination well, they can confidently explain its strengths and recommend the right experiences based on the traveller’s interests. That is why trade engagement and awareness programmes are so important. The more travel professionals experience and understand Saudi Arabia, the easier it will be to communicate the destination’s true potential to consumers.
As Saudi Arabia continues to invest in tourism, what kind of growth do you foresee from the Indian market in the next few years?
I am quite optimistic about the Indian market. Saudi Tourism has been very active in promoting the destination, and there are several plans and initiatives in the pipeline. With sustained destination marketing, stronger trade engagement and increasing awareness, I believe Saudi Arabia will become an increasingly important choice for Indian travellers across leisure, MICE, weddings and other segments.
