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Riyadh today stands at the center of global tourism — a city where nations, industries and innovators are shaping the future of one of the world’s most dynamic sectors. The 26th UN Tourism General Assembly, held in Riyadh over the last few days — the first time it has been hosted in the Gulf — marked a defining moment in that journey. Bringing together delegates from 148 countries, including 97 ministers, 18 vice and deputy ministers, 14 ambassadors and 20 global leaders, it was the largest UN Tourism General Assembly ever convened, a milestone that reflects the world’s growing confidence in our shared tourism future.

Gatherings like these matter. Tourism is more than an industry — it is a bridge between nations and a catalyst for prosperity. When global leaders meet under one roof, they do more than exchange ideas; they shape how the world moves, connects and grows. The assembly provided exactly that space, building consensus around sustainability, skills, innovation, investment and connectivity — the five enablers that will define how global tourism evolves.

Coinciding with the 50th anniversary of UN Tourism, the assembly celebrated five decades of shared progress while setting a vision for the next 50 years. The Riyadh Declaration on the Future of Tourism captures that ambition, calling for sustainability at the heart of every destination, investment in human capital, digital transformation through innovation and artificial intelligence, and expanded connectivity to link people and markets.

��������’s approach ensures that development not only attracts visitors but also uplifts communities and preserves the planet.

Ahmed Al-Khateeb

It was also a milestone for leadership and inclusion, with the election of Shaikha Al-Nowais as the new secretary-general of UN Tourism — the first woman and the first leader from the Gulf Cooperation Council to hold the position. Her election symbolizes the renewal and balance that define this new era of global tourism and �������� is proud to support her vision.

Tourism is already one of the world’s most powerful drivers of opportunity. It currently supports 357 million jobs and is projected to create more than 90 million more by 2035 — one in every three new jobs globally. It contributes $10.9 trillion to global gross domestic product and empowers communities across every continent. In ��������, the sector now accounts for nearly 5 percent of GDP and has become a central pillar of growth. Our goal is to welcome 150 million tourists by 2030, strengthening tourism’s role as a cornerstone of the Kingdom’s transformation.

The people behind tourism remain its greatest strength. Building human capital — through training, education and opportunity — is key to sustaining momentum. Tourism is at its best when it remains personal — when a traveler remembers the warmth of a taxi driver’s welcome, the smile of a hotel porter or the story told by a local guide. These human connections are what turn travel into experience and experience into understanding.

Technology, too, is transforming that experience. AI is reshaping how people plan, book and enjoy their journeys — making them smarter, faster and more seamless. Yet, as I often say, we must digitize the unnecessary and humanize the necessary. In ��������, innovation serves that principle: technology enhances efficiency and access but the human touch remains at the heart of every destination we build.

Investment continues to be the backbone of this progress. From infrastructure to hospitality, �������� is channeling strategic funding to create destinations that connect visitors to culture, nature and discovery. And as we expand air connectivity, our airports will be able to serve 300 million passengers annually by 2030, linking the Kingdom to the world and the world to the Kingdom.

Technology enhances efficiency and access but the human touch remains at the heart of every destination we build.

Ahmed Al-Khateeb

Sustainability remains the principle that guides all of this work. Tourism must grow responsibly, protecting the natural environments and cultural heritage that make destinations unique. ��������’s approach ensures that development not only attracts visitors but also uplifts communities and preserves the planet for future generations.

The spirit of collaboration that defined the assembly continues through TOURISE — a global platform launched in Riyadh to unite the public and private sectors in shaping the future of tourism. Under the theme “The Big Step Forward,” TOURISE is creating a global community of policymakers, innovators and investors working together to make tourism more connected, inclusive and sustainable.

From Riyadh, the conversation about the future of global tourism has found its new home. The world is not only visiting �������� — it is partnering with it. And together, through shared vision and action, we are ensuring that tourism continues to connect people, cultures and economies — not merely as a source of travel but as a force for global progress.

• Ahmed Al-Khateeb is ��������’s Minister of Tourism. X: @AhmedAlKhateeb