WTM Spotlight Riyadh is scheduled to premiere in September 2026, bringing together over 6,500 regional and international visitors along with 150 international hosted buyers. The event centers on tourism resilience and enhancing global industry partnerships, offering a dedicated B2B2C platform that covers destinations, hospitality, attractions, transportation, travel technology, and services. Its format includes pre-arranged business meetings, curated networking, and a conference program featuring sessions by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), George Washington University, and Chemonics International.
Saudi Arabia Tourism Sector Shows Strong Growth in Early 2026
In the first quarter of 2026, Saudi Arabia’s visitor count rose by 8% year-on-year to 37.2 million, with tourism spending reaching SAR82.7
billion as reported by the Saudi Ministry of Tourism. Domestic tourism surged by 16% during the same period, indicating increasing local participation in the expanding tourism market. The Kingdom welcomed nearly 123 million visitors in 2025, generating over SAR304 billion in tourism revenue and surpassing Vision 2030 targets ahead of schedule.
Passenger traffic at Saudi airports hit 140.9 million in 2025, with the country’s connectivity network extending to 176 international destinations according to the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT). Data from STR highlighted sustained recovery with strong demand in Jeddah since March 2026, driving revised upward growth projections for the
coastal city. Additionally, giga-projects in Riyadh are expected to facilitate a tourism demand rebound in 2027, anticipated to reach 2025 levels by February.
Leadership and Investment Drive Tourism Recovery
Danielle Curtis, Regional Portfolio Director for the UAE at RX, emphasized that Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector resilience is underpinned by Vision 2030 and continuous investments in infrastructure, aviation, hospitality, and visitor experiences. She noted that the Kingdom’s ecosystem supports growth and creates opportunities across the travel value chain, a view aligned with the goals of WTM Spotlight Riyadh.
Ibrahim Osta, Senior Economic Growth Director and Global Tourism Lead at Chemonics International, stated, “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.” WTTC research presented at the event supports the notion that recovery driven by leadership, investment, and collaboration leads to stronger and more consistent tourism growth.
WTM Spotlight Riyadh Supports Vision 2030 and Industry Collaboration
WTM Spotlight Riyadh aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 by fostering a marketplace for international and regional travel industry stakeholders to establish commercial relationships and explore new opportunities. The event
highlights the Kingdom’s rapid tourism growth and its role as an emerging hub for travel and tourism innovation, investment, and partnerships.
Organized by RX and Reed Exhibitions, the event offers a comprehensive platform showcasing the full travel ecosystem—from destinations and hospitality to technology and services—facilitating business transactions and knowledge sharing. By connecting Saudi Arabia to global markets and vice versa, WTM Spotlight Riyadh aims to support the ongoing development of the Kingdom’s tourism infrastructure and growth trajectory toward welcoming 150 million visitors annually by 2030.
