"World tourism needs China back," said Fahd Hamidaddin, CEO and member of the board at Saudi Tourism Authority, in an exclusive interview with China Daily.

During a recent visit to promote the country's tourism offerings, Hamidaddin promised to "open the doors to Chinese travelers and ensure the total journey is convenient and seamless". He said he believes tourism coming back will be another growth driver for the Chinese economy, like it is for Saudi Arabia.

The STA is working hard to increase airline capacity and hopes to partner with Chinese travel agencies, he said, adding Chinese visitors can get tourist visas online or on arrival.