Saudi Arabia Leads Global Tourism Dialogue At 121st UNWTO Council Meeting

Minister of Tourism and Chairman of the Executive Council of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Ahmed bin Aqeel Al-Khateeb chaired the 121st Executive Council meeting of the UNWTO, held in Barcelona, Spain, on June 10 and 11. The event saw participation from tourism ministers worldwide, highlighting Saudi Arabia's influential role in the global tourism sector.

In his opening speech, Al-Khateeb remarked, "Presiding over the 121st Executive Council meeting of the United Nations World Tourism Organization was a historic moment for us, as it united world leaders to confront pressing challenges in tourism and to drive tangible progress in all aspects of the global tourism sector." He emphasized the need for innovative models to sustain the sector, create investment opportunities, and continue strategic partnerships.

The council's discussions centred on analyzing international tourism trends, implementing the general work program and regulatory reforms, discussing financial growth strategies for the international tourism sector, and investing in human resource development to maintain global competitiveness. With global travel destinations on the rise, the tourism sector is expected to contribute up to $16 trillion to the global GDP by 2034.

The re-election of Saudi Arabia to chair the UNWTO's Executive Council for a second consecutive year in 2024 underscores its pivotal role in fostering a resilient and thriving global tourism sector. This re-election is a testament to Saudi Arabia's growing influence and commitment to international tourism.

On the sidelines of the event, Al-Khateeb hosted a roundtable meeting with senior executives from Spain's private tourism sector. He showcased attractive investment opportunities in Saudi Arabia under the Investment Enablers Program and the Investment Enablers Initiative in hospitality. The discussions also highlighted plans to enhance air connectivity between Spain, Saudi Arabia, and Europe.

Participants included senior executives from leading global, European, and Spanish hotel chains, as well as operators of various tourism facilities in Saudi Arabia. Organizations looking to expand their presence in Saudi Arabia also attended amidst significant developments under Saudi Vision 2030.

Increase in Spanish Tourists

The roundtable discussions coincided with an increase in Spanish visitors to Saudi Arabia in 2023. The Kingdom received over 40,000 Spanish tourists, marking a 6% increase from 2022. This growth is attributed to the launch of the visit e-visa, part of efforts to provide opportunities for tourists from 66 countries to explore Saudi Arabia's vast tourism destinations.

These initiatives are part of Saudi Arabia's broader strategy to increase inbound tourists to 70 million by 2030. The Kingdom continues to focus on enhancing its tourism infrastructure and connectivity to attract more visitors globally.

With inputs from SPA