Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Tourism has established a strategic partnership with WTM Spotlight Riyadh, designating it as the strategic partner for the inaugural travel industry event scheduled from September 8 to 10, 2026. The event will be held at Riyadh Front Exhibition & Conference Center (RFECC) in Riyadh.
Event Objectives and Participants
WTM Spotlight Riyadh aims to connect international tourism businesses with Saudi Arabia and provide Saudi companies access to global markets. The event will assemble tourism authorities, destinations, hospitality firms, airlines, travel technology companies, investors, buyers, and industry leaders to explore business and investment opportunities.
Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 Tourism Goals
Saudi Arabia plans for tourism to contribute 10%
of the country’s GDP by 2030 and to attract 150 million domestic and international visitors annually by the end of the decade. The partnership supports the Kingdom’s effort to diversify its economy through tourism under the Vision 2030 framework.
International Reach and B2B2C Platform
WTM Spotlight Riyadh is designed to attract exhibitors and visitors from international markets, including travel industry executives and hosted buyers. The event is positioned as a B2B2C platform to facilitate business connections between Saudi and global companies, focusing on Saudi Arabia’s ambitions as both an incoming and outbound travel market.
Danielle Curtis, regional portfolio director for UAE at RX, said the
collaboration is a defining moment for the inaugural event. She stated, “Our strategic partnership with the Ministry of Tourism is a defining moment for the inaugural WTM Spotlight Riyadh and reflects the Kingdom’s ambition to play an even greater role in shaping the future of global tourism.”
Curtis added that the event will bring together decision-makers from the international travel industry and grant travel professionals direct access to Saudi Arabia’s tourism market. She said, “WTM Spotlight Riyadh has been designed to create meaningful business connections, encourage the exchange of ideas and provide international travel professionals with direct access to one
of the world’s most exciting tourism markets.”
Tourism and Economic Strategy
Tourism is a key element of Saudi Arabia’s economic diversification strategy under Vision 2030. The partnership with WTM Spotlight Riyadh is aimed at supporting investment, encouraging international partnerships, and strengthening collaboration in the tourism sector. The event will contribute to advancing Saudi Arabia’s tourism infrastructure and promoting its cultural attractions on the international stage.
