Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - In a historic milestone for the tourism industry, Saudi Arabia is gearing up to host the World Tourism Day for the first time in a few hours. The event is set to take place in the city of Riyadh on September 27th and 28th, marking a turning point in the region's tourism development. The international event will bring together approximately 500 leaders, industry experts, and officials from 120 countries.

The organizing committee has announced an impressive lineup of speakers who will lead discussions and presentations during World Tourism Day. Prominent speakers include Saudi Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khatib, Zurab Pololikashvili, Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Saudi Minister of Investments Engineer Khalid Al-Falih, Deputy Minister of Tourism Princess Haifa bint Mohammed, and South Africa's Minister of Tourism Patricia de Lille.

In addition to these distinguished leaders, prominent figures from the global tourism industry will also participate as speakers. This includes Julia Simpson, CEO of the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), Banci Ho, Secretary-General of the Global Tourism Economy Forum, as well as leaders from major industry players such as Saudi Arabian Airlines, MSC Cruises, Travelport, Virtuoso, and OYO.

The World Tourism Day agenda is comprehensive, covering a variety of crucial topics for the future of tourism. Discussions will revolve around environmental sustainability, attracting talent to the tourism sector, investing in lesser-known destinations, and technological innovation within the industry.

The event will commence with an opening ceremony featuring welcoming remarks from Saudi Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al Khateeb and UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili. This will be followed by debate and discussion sessions on topics of vital importance to the global tourism sector.

A particularly noteworthy moment will be the announcement of the next host country for World Tourism Day in 2024, which will be Georgia, a nation that has shown significant growth in its tourism industry in recent years.

World Tourism Day in Riyadh promises to be a historic milestone for the industry, bringing together experts from around the world to discuss and shape a sustainable and prosperous future for global tourism. The event will not only serve as a platform for knowledge exchange but also as a catalyst for international collaboration in promoting responsible and community and environmentally beneficial tourism.

Speakers Schedule:

September 27th

Opening Ceremony and Welcome Speeches

H.E. Ahmed Al Khateeb, Minister of Tourism, Saudi Arabia
Zurab Pololikashvili, Secretary-General, UNWTO
Natalia Bayona, Executive Director, UNWTO
The Power of Tourism: Building Bridges

Pansy Ho, Vice President and Secretary-General, Global Tourism Economy Forum
Gabriele Burgio, President, Alpitour
Paras Loomba, Founder, Global Himalayan Expedition
Paul Marshall, Head of Nature, NEOM
H.E. Chester Cooper, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investments, and Aviation, The Bahamas
Alternates: Fahd Hammedadin, CEO, STA Yougov
Special Announcement by the Academy of Tourism

H.E. Ahmed Al Khateeb, Minister of Tourism, Saudi Arabia
Zurab Pololikashvili, Secretary-General, UNWTO
Investing in Undiscovered Destinations

Anne Biging, CEO, Healing Hotel
Vladislav Doronin, CEO, Aman Resorts
Don Welsh, CEO, Destination International
Mehmet Ersoy, Minister of Culture and Tourism, Turkey
H.E. Ngiraibelas Tmetuchl, Minister of Human Resources, Culture, Tourism, and Development, Palau
Alternates: Roula Jouny, CEO, Tourism 365; Mario Cardone, CEO, Authentico Hotels; Gregory Djerejian, Chief Investments and Legal Officer, Red Sea Global; Manuel Matutes, Managing Partner, Kei Cities
Commitment Announcement for World Tourism Day

Investing in Prosperity: Closing the Innovation Gap

Robin Ingle, CEO of Ingle International
Pete Comeau, General Manager of Phocuswright
Christiane
September 28th

Sector Public Session: A Sustainable Future for Tourism

Sector Public-Private Session: An End-to-End Seamless Travel Experience

Video on World Tourism Day and Announcement of the DMT 2024 Host - Georgia