Arab Tourism Organization Highlights KSA's Growing Influence on Global Tourism
Hosting UNWTO's largest General Assembly in Riyadh underscores Saudi Arabia's strategic role in global tourism.
The Arab Tourism Organization emphasized the significance of hosting the 26th General Assembly of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
This four-day event, the largest in UNWTO's 50-year history and the first in the Gulf Cooperation Council region, brought together approximately 160 delegations consisting of ministers, senior officials, and industry leaders.The assembly focused on harnessing innovation, digital transformation, and artificial intelligence to promote sustainable growth within the tourism sector.
The Saudi Ministry of Tourism organized four plenary sessions and seven specialized committee meetings that centered around integrating AI and digital solutions to enhance sustainable tourism and foster international cooperation.Riyadh's well-developed infrastructure and thriving hospitality industry provided a suitable setting for such a high-profile event, showcasing Saudi Arabia's commitment to hosting global conferences.
Key outcomes of the assembly included the establishment of the first UNWTO Regional Office in the Middle East and Saudi Arabia assuming leadership of the UNWTO Executive Council for 2023-24.According to recent data, tourism across the Gulf Cooperation Council contributed $247.1 billion to the region's economy in 2024, representing a nearly 32 percent increase compared to 2019.
The report by the GCC Statistical Center also indicated a sharp rebound in intra-GCC travel with 19.3 million visitors traveling between member states, a 52 percent rise from the same period in 2019.The findings were presented in a report titled "GCC Tourism: Intra-Gulf Integration," released on World Tourism Day (September 27).
This report highlights tourism's growing importance as an economic growth driver and promoter of employment and cultural exchange, while supporting environmental sustainability initiatives across the Gulf.Saudi Arabia continued to lead regional tourism expansion.
The country welcomed a record 30 million international visitors in 2024, an 8 percent increase from the previous year, with tourism spending reaching SR284 billion ($75.7 billion), up 11 percent compared to 2023.
Total domestic and international tourists amounted to approximately 116 million, representing a 6 percent rise over the preceding year.The UN World Tourism Organization's World Tourism Barometer reported that Saudi Arabia experienced the highest global increase in international tourist revenue during the first quarter of 2025, with arrivals up 102 percent compared to the same period in 2019.
This four-day event, the largest in UNWTO's 50-year history and the first in the Gulf Cooperation Council region, brought together approximately 160 delegations consisting of ministers, senior officials, and industry leaders.The assembly focused on harnessing innovation, digital transformation, and artificial intelligence to promote sustainable growth within the tourism sector.
The Saudi Ministry of Tourism organized four plenary sessions and seven specialized committee meetings that centered around integrating AI and digital solutions to enhance sustainable tourism and foster international cooperation.Riyadh's well-developed infrastructure and thriving hospitality industry provided a suitable setting for such a high-profile event, showcasing Saudi Arabia's commitment to hosting global conferences.
Key outcomes of the assembly included the establishment of the first UNWTO Regional Office in the Middle East and Saudi Arabia assuming leadership of the UNWTO Executive Council for 2023-24.According to recent data, tourism across the Gulf Cooperation Council contributed $247.1 billion to the region's economy in 2024, representing a nearly 32 percent increase compared to 2019.
The report by the GCC Statistical Center also indicated a sharp rebound in intra-GCC travel with 19.3 million visitors traveling between member states, a 52 percent rise from the same period in 2019.The findings were presented in a report titled "GCC Tourism: Intra-Gulf Integration," released on World Tourism Day (September 27).
This report highlights tourism's growing importance as an economic growth driver and promoter of employment and cultural exchange, while supporting environmental sustainability initiatives across the Gulf.Saudi Arabia continued to lead regional tourism expansion.
The country welcomed a record 30 million international visitors in 2024, an 8 percent increase from the previous year, with tourism spending reaching SR284 billion ($75.7 billion), up 11 percent compared to 2023.
Total domestic and international tourists amounted to approximately 116 million, representing a 6 percent rise over the preceding year.The UN World Tourism Organization's World Tourism Barometer reported that Saudi Arabia experienced the highest global increase in international tourist revenue during the first quarter of 2025, with arrivals up 102 percent compared to the same period in 2019.
