WTM Spotlight Riyadh will launch its inaugural event in Saudi Arabia in September 2026, attracting more than 6,500 regional and international visitors along with 150 hosted international buyers. The event will focus primarily on tourism resilience and strengthening global industry partnerships.
Saudi Arabia Tourism Growth and Statistics Q1 2026 and 2025
Saudi Arabia’s visitor numbers rose by 8% year-over-year in the first quarter of 2026, reaching 37.2 million, with tourism spending hitting SAR82.7 billion during the same period. Domestic tourism also expanded by 16% in these months. In 2025, the Kingdom welcomed nearly 123 million domestic and international visitors, generating over SAR304 billion in tourism expenditure, surpassing Vision 2030 targets
earlier than planned.
Passenger traffic through Saudi airports reached 140.9 million in 2025. Saudi Arabia’s aviation infrastructure now connects the country to 176 international destinations, according to the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT).
Tourism Sector Resilience Supported by Projects and Investments
Data from STR show Jeddah’s tourism demand has been strong since March 2026, attributed to its coastal location, with forecasts indicating continued growth through 2027. Riyadh’s tourism sector is expected to rebound rapidly in 2027, supported by giga-projects, with demand anticipated to return to 2025 levels by February 2027.
Investments in tourism infrastructure, aviation, hospitality, and visitor experiences have bolstered the Kingdom’s recovery and expansion efforts. These
developments align with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 goal to reach 150 million annual visitors by 2030.
Leadership and Investment as Drivers of Recovery
Danielle Curtis, Regional Portfolio Director, UAE at RX, stated that Vision 2030 and sustained investment in infrastructure and hospitality have created a robust tourism ecosystem in Saudi Arabia that continues to attract investment and generate growth.
Ibrahim Osta, Senior Economic Growth Director and Global Tourism Lead at Chemonics International, said: “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.” This research was part of a World Travel & Tourism Council report with contributions from George Washington University and Chemonics International, which will present three conference sessions at WTM Spotlight Riyadh.
WTM Spotlight Riyadh Event Structure and Vision 2030 Alignment
The event is designed as a focused B2B2C platform showcasing the entire travel ecosystem, including destinations, hospitality providers, transportation, technology, and tourism services. It will facilitate pre-arranged business meetings, curated networking, and a comprehensive conference programme aimed at fostering commercial relationships and unlocking new opportunities.
WTM Spotlight Riyadh supports Saudi Arabia’s target of
welcoming 150 million visitors annually by 2030 and enhances international collaboration in tourism. The platform connects global stakeholders with one of the world’s fastest-growing travel markets, reinforcing the Kingdom’s role as a driver of tourism innovation and investment in line with Vision 2030 objectives.
