Riyadh confirmed its prominent position in the global tourism sector by hosting the 26th session of the UNWTO General Assembly, the largest in the organization's history, with more than 100 ministers from around the world in attendance.

UNWTO General Assembly

The session kicked off in the Saudi capital on Friday under the theme “AI-powered tourism... redefining the future”, where participants discussed the future of tourism over the next 50 years, focusing on collaboration between the public and private sectors and civil society.

In an opening speech, Mr. Al-Marri emphasized the importance of collaboration between the public and private sectors and civil society. <In an opening speech, Saudi Arabia's Minister of Tourism, Ahmed Al-Khatib, stressed that partnership between government institutions, the private sector and civil society organizations is the key to achieving progress in the tourism industry. <He added that Saudi Arabia seeks to integrate technology, such as artificial intelligence, into the development of the sector without at the expense of human interaction, which is the core of the tourism experience. Al-Khatib pointed out that tourism is not only limited to technology, but requires real human interaction to transfer the cultures of peoples, explaining that Saudi Arabia is focused on Saudi citizens being at the forefront of the hospitality experience and embracing tourism.

Saudi Arabia's tourism sector will be at the forefront of this year's edition. <The 26th session will witness strategic discussions on global tourism policies, as well as the election of the new UNWTO Secretary-General, emphasizing the importance of sustainability and inclusiveness in the tourism of the future.