Inaugural TOURISE Summit In Riyadh Aims To Shape The Future Of Global Tourism

The inaugural TOURISE Summit commenced in Riyadh, under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. The event, themed "The Giant Step Into the Future," will continue until November 13 at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center. It gathers global leaders, decision-makers, and innovators in tourism to transform bold ideas into practical solutions for the sector's future.

TOURISE aims to reshape the tourism industry over the next 50 years by fostering collaboration among various sectors. The summit seeks to enhance investment efficiency and unify efforts across industries. It encourages partnerships where competitors become allies, promoting cooperation and integration within tourism-related fields.

More than 140 international speakers are participating, including Expedia CEO Ariane Gorin and Patricia Espinosa, Founder of onepoint5 Ambassador. Other notable attendees include Gloria Guevara, Interim CEO of the World Travel and Tourism Council; Shaikha Nasser Al Nowais, Incoming Secretary General of UN Tourism; and Luis Maroto, CEO of Amadeus.

The event's agenda highlights diverse sectors coming together to spark dialogues and build new partnerships. This convergence opens avenues for international cooperation beyond traditional boundaries. Such partnerships aim to create modern business models, improve traveler experiences, and develop sustainable destinations through a unique multi-sector platform like TOURISE.

TOURISE features over 40 panel discussions and more than 15 workshops across four main tracks: addressing challenges, investing in growth opportunities, catalyzing major investments, and developing future policies. Sessions explore priority topics aligned with global tourism transformations like AI in tourism and innovative investment models.

The summit focuses on five key aspirations that will shape travel's future: innovative technology; borders and bridges; attracting the next generation of tourists; creating real value through experiences; and designing future destinations. These themes aim to redefine travel by balancing people and planet while enhancing traveler experiences.

Awards Celebrating Exceptional Destinations

On its first day, the summit announced winners of the 2025 TOURISE Awards. This global initiative honours leading destinations that build cultural bridges and offer exceptional experiences. The awards cover five categories: Arts and Culture, Adventure, Food and Culinary, Shopping, and Entertainment.

Twelve destinations reached the final stage of these awards by redefining global tourism's future. They demonstrated their ability to deliver rich experiences that go beyond traditional travel concepts. These awards highlight destinations excelling in providing memorable cultural interactions worldwide.

In his opening address, Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khateeb stated: "TOURISE is not just an event; it is a joint action platform through which we will address the challenges that have long constrained tourism’s full potential." He emphasised turning ideas into actions to make a tangible difference in tourism.

The summit follows the 26th session of the UN Tourism General Assembly hosted by Saudi Arabia. It aims to reimagine collaborative ways that strengthen interactions among tourism-related sectors while discovering opportunities for partnership among competitors.

With inputs from SPA