Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Tourism has formed a strategic partnership with WTM Spotlight Riyadh for the inaugural WTM Spotlight Riyadh event scheduled from September 8 to 10, 2026, at the Riyadh Front Exhibition & Conference Center (RFECC).
Event Purpose and Participants
The three-day event aims to connect international tourism companies with Saudi Arabia, while granting Saudi tourism businesses access to global markets. It will assemble entities such as tourism authorities, destination marketers, hospitality firms, airlines, travel technology providers, investors, buyers, and industry leaders to explore business and investment prospects within the Kingdom.
Vision 2030 Tourism Goals
Tourism is a growing component of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 economic diversification
strategy. The Kingdom targets tourism to account for 10% of its GDP and to attract 150 million domestic and international visitors annually by 2030. Recent data from the Ministry of Tourism point to rising visitor numbers and tourism expenditure, supporting the Kingdom’s ambitions to become a global tourism hub.
Strategic Statements and Role of the Partnership
Danielle Curtis, regional portfolio director for UAE at RX, said the Ministry of Tourism partnership represents a defining moment for the first WTM Spotlight Riyadh. She stated it aligns with Saudi Arabia’s objective to play a larger role in shaping global tourism. Curtis noted the event is designed to facilitate meaningful
business connections, foster idea exchange, and give international travel professionals direct access to the Saudi tourism market.
The partnership supports the Kingdom’s focus on attracting investment and fostering international collaboration as it develops its tourism infrastructure and pursues the goals laid out in Vision 2030. WTM Spotlight Riyadh will operate as a B2B2C platform engaging participants across the broader travel and tourism ecosystem.
