The pivotal role of tourism in driving economic diversification will take center stage at the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting in Davos this week.

 

Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Tourism, Ahmed Al-Khateeb, will participate in the WEF Annual Meeting as part of the Saudi delegation led by Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and will lead the discussion showing how travel & tourism is critical to economic growth and prosperity.

 

"The Travel and Tourism sector is a cornerstone of global economies and, as we convene in Davos for the WEF Annual Meeting 2025, acknowledging the importance of the sector in discussions is vital," said Al-Khateeb.

 

"I am honoured to be invited to the WEF Annual Meeting and underscore tourism's potential as a catalyst for inclusive global economic transformation through sustainability, innovation, and collaboration. Saudi Arabia remains committed to strengthening international cooperation and promoting sustainable growth in tourism," he said.

 

In collaboration with the Saudi Ministry of Tourism with expert input from Minister Al-Khateeb, the WEF has released a new briefing paper on “The Future of Travel and Tourism: Embracing Sustainable and Inclusive Growth” exploring transformative trends of the sector, destination readiness and the importance of cross-sector collaboration. 

 

This paper will help drive travel and tourism discussions across the WEF Annual Meeting agenda in livestreamed sessions including:

• Travel and Tourism’s role in Building Trust; Tuesday, January 21, 9 am CET

• Scaling Sustainable Tourism: Connecting People and Places; Tuesday, January 21, 4.40 pm CET

• The Way We Will Travel; Wednesday January 22, 11.30 am CET

 

The kingdom has also released an Investor White Paper highlighting Vision 2030 initiatives that are transforming the tourism sector. The paper highlights the significant strides made in developing state-of-the-art tourism infrastructure, drawing international visitors, and offering unique cultural experiences. 

 

As a result, Saudi Arabia has rapidly become one of the world's fastest-growing tourism destinations, surpassing its 2030 goal of 100 million tourist arrivals in 2023. Strategically located within a six-hour flight of 40 per cent of the world’s population, Saudi Arabia is poised to be a global tourism hub.

 

The WEF Annual Meeting 2025 in Davos marks a significant moment in the trajectory of global tourism, and emphasises Saudi Arabia's dedication to fostering cross-sector partnerships and driving economic growth through tourism. 

 

Minister Al-Khateeb's active participation will pave the way for new partnerships and initiatives aimed at leveraging tourism for global economic development, said the statement.

 

The kingdom remains committed to sharing its vision for a sustainable, inclusive, and prosperous future for the tourism industry, ensuring perpetual growth and innovation, it said.

 

In addition to participation in official WEF engagements, Minister Al-Khateeb will represent the kingdom in dialogues aimed at fostering pathways to drive Africa’s development through investment, the role of women leaders in global economies, and strategies to scale sustainable tourism and will engage with key policymakers and influential leaders across both the private and public sectors. - TradeArabia News Service