WTM Spotlight Riyadh to highlight tourism resilience &strengthen global industry partnerships

Exclusive insights from STR support the resilience of Saudi Arabia’s tourism
and hospitality sector, underpinned by strong domestic demand and continued investment

New WTTC research confirms that no destination has suffered permanent
collapse following a crisis, with recovery often leading to stronger growth
 Taking place from 8-10 September at the Riyadh Front Exhibition &
Conference Center (RFECC), WTM Spotlight Riyadh will connect the world to
Saudi Arabia and Saudi Arabia to the world – supporting long-term industry
growth through meaningful business connections and collaboration
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 29 July 2026: WTM Spotlight Riyadh will showcase the
strength, resilience and rapid growth of Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector, bringing
together global industry leaders to strengthen partnerships, explore new
opportunities and reinforce confidence in one of the world’s fastest-growing tourism
markets.
Exclusive insights from STR have highlighted the resilience of the Kingdom’s tourism
sector, with Jeddah in particular performing well, with strong demand since March
2026 due to the city’s coastal location, resulting in growth being revised up and the
rebound expected to continue through 2027. The data also indicated that giga-
projects in Riyadh will support a rapid rebound in demand in 2027, with expectations
to reach 2025 levels in February.
These findings align closely with Saudi Arabia’s own tourism trajectory. In Q1 2026,
data from the Saudi Ministry of Tourism showed that visitor numbers increased by
8% year-on-year to 37.2 million, with tourist spending reaching SAR82.7 billion.
Domestic tourism rose by 16% during the same period, reflecting strong local
engagement with the Kingdom’s expanding tourism offering and growing confidence
in the sector’s future.
In 2025, the Kingdom welcomed nearly 123 million domestic and international
visitors, generating more than SAR304 billion in tourism spending and surpassing
Vision 2030 tourism milestones ahead of schedule.

Danielle Curtis, Regional Portfolio Director, UAE, RX, said: “Tourism has
consistently demonstrated an extraordinary ability to recover, adapt and grow, even
in the face of significant challenges. Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector is an excellent
example of this resilience. Supported by Vision 2030 and continued investment in
tourism infrastructure, aviation, hospitality, and visitor experiences, the Kingdom has
built a robust ecosystem that continues to generate growth, attract investment, and
create opportunities across the travel value chain.
By bringing together international and regional travel stakeholders, WTM Spotlight
Riyadh provides a focused environment where meaningful business relationships
can be established and developed, knowledge can be shared, and new opportunities
can be unlocked.”
Research from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), developed in
partnership with George Washington University and Chemonics International, which
will deliver three conference sessions during WTM Spotlight Riyadh, outlined the
resilience of the travel sector and its ability to recover from disruption. According to
the report’s research, recovery is consistent and, in most cases, leads to stronger
growth.
The WTTC report also highlighted that recovery is a result of leadership, investment
and collaboration. Ibrahim Osta, Senior Economic Growth Director & Global
Tourism Lead at Chemonics International, said: “Recovery doesn’t just happen –
it’s a decision. The destinations that came back fastest are the ones that made the
bold decision to invest at the height of the crisis, protected their businesses, and
controlled their own narrative when everyone else went quiet. That is not luck. That
is leadership.”
Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector has maintained sustained investment in aviation,
hospitality and destination development. Passenger traffic across Saudi airports
reached 140.9 million in 2025, while the Kingdom’s connectivity network expanded to
176 international destinations according to statistics from the General Authority for
Statistics (GASTAT).
Investment across tourism infrastructure has also continued, with new hospitality
developments, expanded airport capacity, enhanced visitor experiences and major
tourism projects supporting the Kingdom’s ambition to welcome 150 million visitors
annually by 2030.
WTM Spotlight Riyadh has been created to support this growth by providing a highly
focused environment where destinations, tourism authorities, travel brands,
hospitality providers, airlines, technology companies, and buyers can establish
meaningful commercial relationships and explore new opportunities. By connecting
the world to Saudi Arabia and Saudi Arabia to the world, the platform allows
international stakeholders to engage directly with one of the world’s most dynamic
tourism markets while supporting the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 ambitions.
The event will bring together more than 6,500 regional and international visitors and
150 international hosted buyers, creating a dedicated marketplace where industry

leaders can exchange ideas, develop partnerships and contribute to the continued
resilience and growth of global tourism.
Designed as a focused B2B2C platform, WTM Spotlight Riyadh will showcase the
full travel ecosystem, from destinations, hospitality providers and attractions to
transportation, travel technology and tourism services. Through pre-arranged
business meetings, curated networking opportunities, and a comprehensive
conference programme, the event will create an environment in which meaningful
commercial outcomes can be achieved while supporting Saudi Arabia’s long-term
tourism ambitions.
Aligned with Vision 2030, WTM Spotlight Riyadh will reinforce the Kingdom’s position
as a key driver of tourism innovation, investment and international collaboration,
demonstrating how resilience, connectivity and partnership can continue to shape
the future growth of global travel.