WTM Spotlight Riyadh 2026 will focus on tourism resilience and the development of global partnerships, aiming to reinforce confidence in Saudi Arabia’s rapidly expanding tourism market. The event will gather more than 6,500 regional and international visitors alongside 150 hosted international buyers to foster collaboration within the sector.
Saudi Arabia’s Tourism Growth and Spending
Data from the Saudi Ministry of Tourism indicated an 8% year-on-year rise in visitor numbers during the first quarter of 2026, reaching 37.2 million. Tourist expenditure in the same period amounted to SAR 82.7 billion. Domestic tourism increased by 16% in Q1 2026. In 2025, Saudi Arabia accommodated nearly 123 million domestic
and international visitors, generating tourism spending surpassing SAR 304 billion. Passenger traffic across Saudi airports totaled 140.9 million in 2025, supported by an expanded connectivity network to 176 international destinations, as reported by the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT).
Tourism Demand in Jeddah and Riyadh’s Giga-Projects
Insights from STR revealed sustained strong tourism demand in Jeddah since March 2026, attributed to its coastal location, which has prompted upward growth revisions. The rebound in Jeddah is expected to continue through 2027. Meanwhile, giga-projects in Riyadh are projected to drive a swift demand recovery, anticipated to return to 2025 levels by February 2027.
Industry Leaders and Recovery Strategies
Danielle Curtis, Regional Portfolio Director UAE,
RX, noted Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector as a prime example of resilience aided by Vision 2030 and ongoing investments in aviation, hospitality, and infrastructure. Research presented by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), in partnership with George Washington University and Chemonics International, underlines that sector recovery results from leadership and investment. Ibrahim Osta, Senior Economic Growth Director & Global Tourism Lead at Chemonics International, emphasized the importance of decisive action during crises, stating, “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.”
Event Scale and Vision 2030 Alignment
WTM Spotlight Riyadh is designed as a B2B2C platform that will showcase the full travel ecosystem, including destinations, hospitality providers, attractions, transportation, travel technology, and tourism services. The event supports Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 goal of welcoming 150 million visitors annually by 2030, facilitating business opportunities and collaboration between international travel stakeholders and the Kingdom’s tourism sector.
Conference Sessions and Strategic Industry Role
The event will feature three conference sessions hosted by WTTC in collaboration with George Washington University and Chemonics International,
highlighting recovery trends and partnerships in the travel industry. Saudi Arabia continues to invest heavily in tourism infrastructure, supported by expanded airport capacity and new hospitality developments, strengthening its position as a global tourism hub.
