The Saudi Ministry of Tourism has been named Strategic Partner for the inaugural WTM Spotlight Riyadh event, scheduled for 8 to 10 September 2026 at the Riyadh Front Exhibition & Conference Center (RFECC).
WTM Spotlight Riyadh 2026 is designed as a travel industry platform connecting Saudi Arabia with global markets. The event will gather destinations, tourism authorities, hospitality providers, airlines, travel technology firms, investors, consumers, and industry executives to explore business opportunities within Saudi Arabia’s expanding tourism sector.
The event operates as a B2B2C platform spanning the travel and tourism ecosystem, supporting inbound tourism ambitions alongside access to Saudi Arabia’s
high-value outbound market. It aims to encourage international collaboration and investment aligned with the Kingdom’s economic strategy.
Saudi Vision 2030 sets a target for tourism to generate 10 percent of the national GDP and attract 150 million visitors annually by the end of this decade. Recent Ministry of Tourism data shows growth in visitor arrivals and tourism spending, reinforcing momentum toward these goals.
Danielle Curtis Statement
Danielle Curtis, Regional Portfolio Director, UAE, RX, emphasized the partnership’s importance for WTM Spotlight Riyadh, stating: “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 “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.”
Strategic Objectives and Industry Impact
The partnership underscores Saudi Arabia’s commitment to deepening international collaboration and attracting investment in its tourism sector, a key pillar of economic diversification under Vision 2030. WTM Spotlight Riyadh aims to position Riyadh as a major tourism investment hub by hosting global industry stakeholders and promoting sustainable tourism growth.
Organized
by RX and Reed Exhibitions Limited, trademarks of RELX Group plc, the event facilitates direct engagement between Saudi Arabia and global travel industry leaders. It serves as a platform to accelerate the Kingdom’s tourism ambitions by fostering new business relations and investment opportunities.
