Saudi Tourism Forum Concludes with Promising Outlook for the Kingdom’s Tourism Future

• Multiple agreements signed between government entities and private companies
• Inspiring dialogue sessions and workshops for local and international investors and startups

The Saudi Tourism Forum concluded successfully, witnessing a significant turnout of over 31,000 experts and specialists in the tourism sector from around the world.

The three-day event, held at Riyadh Front in partnership with the Ministry of Tourism, the Saudi Tourism Authority, the Tourism Development Fund, and Air Connectivity Program was held under the theme “To Discover”.

The forum achieved its objectives of highlighting investment opportunities in the Saudi tourism sector and fostering cooperation and partnerships among various stakeholders in the field.

The forum organized over 100 sessions and workshops, attracting a select group of global experts and decision-makers. These sessions facilitated the exchange of knowledge and expertise on the latest developments in the tourism sector. Moreover, the forum hosted more than 450 leading brands and over 20 international organizations in the hosted buyers program.

These intensive activities resulted in the signing of numerous agreements and partnerships that will contribute to the development of the tourism sector and enhance the Kingdom’s position as a global tourism destination.

Engineer Hamza Nasser, CEO of 4M Events and Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the Forum, stated: “The third Saudi Tourism Forum has achieved remarkable success, exceeding all expectations. We witnessed record participation from experts and decision-makers in the tourism sector, which contributed to enriching discussions and exchanging experiences.

This forum has laid the foundation for a new phase of cooperation and partnership and has contributed to developing a clear roadmap for the future of tourism in the Kingdom. We are committed to working with all partners to transform the Kingdom into a leading global tourism destination. We are confident that this forum will contribute to driving the wheel of tourism development in the Kingdom and achieving the goals of Saudi Vision 2030”.

Among the most prominent outcomes of the forum was the signing more than 81 agreements between various government agencies and companies, including the Saudi Tourism Authority, Almadinah Almunawarah Development Authority, the Hail Region Development Authority, the Al Ahsa Development Authority, the Al-Ahsa Cooperative Tourism Society, the Imam Abdulaziz bin Mohammed Royal Reserve Development Authority, the Royal Commission for AlUla, the National Center for Vegetation Development and Combating Desertification, the Saudi Sports Media Federation, the Saudi Tourism Society, Jeddah Global College, Madarim Hotels, Ewaa Hotels, and other companies that include Tawuniya, Almosafer, Berain, Baan, Baytonia, Madfu, Warwick, Saudis Around the World, Seyaha, Sightscape, Jeeny, GoSteer, Scene, TopRides, Wego, Gathern, Webook, VIP, and Saudi Trips, and more.

The forum presented inspiring and enriching dialogue sessions and workshops on topics related to the tourism sector, exploring the latest trends in the tourism sector. His Highness Prince Saud bin Turki Al Saud, Head of Strategic Partnerships at the Red Sea Authority, participated in a dialogue session entitled “Government Partnerships and Their Pivotal Role in Achieving Vision 2030 Goals in the Tourism Sector”.

Other topics highlighted included the use of artificial intelligence in tourism and travel services, the latest innovations and solutions that enhance the traveler experience, modern travel technologies and their role in improving our experiences, the impact of the sports and entertainment sector on hospitality and tourism, the impact of developing tourism products on coastal cities and enhancing their experiences, the success stories of Saudi women and their leading role in enhancing the hospitality sector in the Kingdom, the Ministry of Tourism’s experience in developing human capital and providing tourism routes for tourists, selecting tour guides, providing tourism guidance solutions, empowering tour guides, and enhancing their capabilities.

Startups also showcased their projects, aiming to attract investments in these projects and in emerging tourist destinations in the Kingdom, as well as exploring the flourishing of luxury tourism in the Kingdom, discovering the impact of developing tourism products, discovering the most prominent travel destinations locally or internationally, and discovering investment opportunities in emerging tourist destinations in the Kingdom, in addition to exploring the impact of the sports and entertainment sector on hospitality and tourism, exploring recreational tourism in holy sites, promoting marine events, and developing beach tourism in the Kingdom.

Other topics focused on developing and producing luxury gifts that reflect the Kingdom’s rich cultural and historical depth, and safe and innovative adventure experiences in Saudi tourism, as well as global experiences in utilizing data in strategic planning for the tourism sector and environmental tourism in light of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, the Saudi Partners platform to enhance cooperation and success opportunities in the tourism sector, issuing licenses for tourism hospitality facilities, the journey of licensing for travel and tourism activities, and tourism guidance, empowering restaurants and entrepreneurs, and providing innovative solutions for cloud kitchens, as well as the most prominent media trends that have changed the tourism sector.

The forum launched this year at a time when visiting Saudi Arabia has become easier, smoother, more enjoyable, and safer than ever before, due to the huge investments and facilities provided, the number and types of visas issued to the country, and the advanced digital infrastructure.

It is worth noting that Saudi tourism has succeeded in recent years in increasing its contribution to the national GDP and creating new jobs for national cadres of both genders in various tourism sectors. Saudi Arabia is making efforts to upgrade the sector by increasing its contribution to the GDP to 10%, as well as targeting 100 to 150 million visits by the year 2030.

It is worth mentioning that the Saudi Tourism Forum has achieved remarkable achievements since its launch, highlighting the rich cultural heritage and distinctive tourist sites in the Kingdom.

Through the support of prestigious partners and sponsors, the forum contributes to a shared commitment to developing this vital sector, enhancing knowledge of the tourism sector, exchanging experiences, and building strategic partnerships.

The forum is a comprehensive platform for showcasing the latest developments in the Saudi tourism sector, learning about the most prominent investment projects, developing the skills and capabilities of attendees, and building new partnerships that contribute to driving the wheel of tourism development in the Kingdom, which enhances the Kingdom’s position as a global tourist destination in accordance with the goals of Vision 2030.

The Saudi Tourism Forum reaffirms the Kingdom’s commitment to becoming a leading global tourist destination through further developments in the tourism sector, contributing to the realization of its ambitious vision.