Saudi Arabia’s Commitment to Sustainable Tourism Development
In a bold statement at the UN headquarters in New York, Saudi Tourism Minister Ahmed Al-Khateeb reaffirmed the Kingdom’s dedication to the sustainable development of the travel sector.
Under the visionary leadership of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia has emerged as a highly promising and alluring global travel destination.
The event, organized during UN Sustainability Week by the president of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly, Dennis Francis, in collaboration with UN Tourism, aims to foster a united effort to bolster the resilience of the sector and amplify its contributions to sustainability.
Al-Khateeb highlighted Saudi Arabia’s proactive approach to mitigating the environmental impacts of the travel and tourism industry. He emphasized the Kingdom’s pivotal role in supporting the establishment of the World Travel and Tourism Council and the World Center for Sustainable Tourism.
As the chair of the executive council of UN Tourism, Saudi Arabia has worked diligently over the past two years to amplify the representation of the travel and tourism sector on the global stage, Al-Khateeb stated.
The collaboration between UN Tourism and Saudi Arabia has led to the implementation of various initiatives, including the Best Tourism Villages award, the Tourism Opens Minds program, and a task force dedicated to reimagining the future of tourism.
Saudi Arabia’s commitment to sustainable tourism is evident in its plans to attract over 70 million international tourists annually by 2030 while significantly reducing carbon dioxide emissions and expanding protected areas and reforestation efforts.
Al-Khateeb underscored the Kingdom’s efforts to launch the Sustainable Tourism Global Center and highlighted transformative projects like the NEOM smart city development and the Red Sea tourism project, which prioritize environmental sustainability and community empowerment.
Expressing the Kingdom’s aspirations for global collaboration, Al-Khateeb called on all nations to join forces in achieving sustainable development in the travel and tourism sector.
Through this significant UN event, Saudi Arabia aims to convey a powerful message about environmental preservation and lead the way in transforming tourism into an eco-friendly industry that benefits communities worldwide.
UN Sustainability Week, which kicked off on Monday in New York, is set to continue until Friday.