WTM Spotlight Riyadh Debuts as Saudi Tourism Takes Center Stage
The inaugural World Travel Market (WTM) Spotlight Riyadh opened today at the Riyadh Front Exhibition and Conference Center and will run through September 10, 2026. As the first Saudi event in WTM’s destination-focused series, it is designed to connect local tourism businesses with international buyers, industry leaders and media while showcasing the Kingdom’s growing range of destinations and travel experiences.
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Tourism is the strategic partner for the inaugural edition, reflecting joint efforts to accelerate tourism-sector growth, deepen international cooperation and advance the goals of Saudi Vision 2030. The event is expected to attract about 6,500 regional and international visitors, including nearly 150 hosted buyers, providing a forum for meetings, partnerships and discussions on the sector’s latest developments.
Focus on New Opportunities
The event comes as regional travel patterns continue to shift amid geopolitical developments, while Saudi Arabia benefits from sustained growth in domestic and religious tourism and expands its portfolio of new destinations. Its conference programme will examine the Kingdom’s tourism transformation under Vision 2030, international-market opportunities, integrated visitor experiences, connectivity, talent, technology, infrastructure and giga-projects.
Participants include the Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of Culture, the Saudi Chambers Federation, Saudi Cruise, flyadeal, Almosafer, The Red Sea Development Company and the Royal Commission for AlUla Governorate, alongside other entities across the travel and tourism ecosystem. Together, they represent the range of public- and private-sector stakeholders driving the Kingdom’s tourism expansion.
Investment, Demand
Tourism investment in Saudi Arabia rose 19.4% in 2025, while the Kingdom led Arab countries in tourism revenues, reaching approximately $42.6 billion—up 4% year on year. International visitor spending is also projected to more than double over the coming decade, signalling continued momentum in demand for Saudi travel experiences.
Travel and tourism accounted for about 14.1% of Saudi Arabia’s GDP, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council; however, this figure should not be directly equated with Vision 2030’s 10% tourism target, as WTTC measures a broader economic footprint that includes related investment and construction activity, whereas the Vision target focuses on tourism’s direct contribution.
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