Riyadh’s Tourism Minister Champions Global Economy Growth and Local Community Sustainability at UNWTO Meeting
During the 121st session of the UN World Tourism Organization’s Executive Council, Saudi Arabia’s minister of tourism, Ahmed Al-Khateeb, took center stage to emphasize the pivotal role the tourism sector plays in driving global economic growth and ensuring sustainable benefits for local communities.
In his opening speech, Al-Khateeb hailed the meeting as a “historic moment” that brought together world leaders to address pressing challenges in tourism and propel tangible progress across all facets of the global tourism industry.
He underscored the collective vision for the continued prosperity of the international tourism sector, stressing the necessity for innovative models to sustain the industry, create investment opportunities, and foster strategic partnerships.
Discussions at the meeting delved into the analysis of international tourism trends, implementation of general work programs and regulatory reforms, strategies for financial growth in the international tourism sector, and the significance of investing in human resources development to uphold global competitiveness, as reported by the Saudi Press Agency.
Al-Khateeb also engaged in a meeting with representatives from Spain’s private tourism sector to showcase investment opportunities in the Kingdom, available facilities for investors, and plans to enhance air connectivity between Saudi Arabia and Spain, as well as Europe at large.
The participants included top executives from leading global, European, and Spanish hotel chains, tourism business operators in the Kingdom, and organizations keen on expanding their footprint in Saudi Arabia in light of the tourism developments under the Saudi Vision 2030 national development and diversification plan.
In 2023, Saudi Arabia welcomed over 40,000 tourists from Spain, marking a 6 percent increase from 2022. This growth was attributed to the e-visa program introduced for visitors from 66 countries, with the goal of attracting 70 million visitors by 2030.
Additionally, during the UNWTO meeting, Al-Khateeb signed a memorandum of understanding with the Greek tourism minister, Olga Kefalogianni, to boost tourism businesses, investments, and enhance the skills of industry workers.
Saudi Arabia’s reelection to chair UNWTO’s Executive Council for a second consecutive year in 2024 underscores its commitment to advancing the global tourism industry.