Riyadh, Saudi Arabia — During the TOURISE Summit 2025, following the Momentum Stage panel: Living Landmark: Where Heritage Meets Luxury, Julie Coker, President and CEO of NYC Tourism + Conventions, spoke with ABC MUNDIAL about the global tourism opportunities highlighted at the event. The forum not only explores relationships with Saudi Arabia but also brings together some of the world’s leading tourism figures, offering a unique platform to identify new international partnerships and projects aimed at attracting more travelers to New York City.

Coker emphasized the importance of this international platform for exploring global collaborations and partnerships in key areas such as artificial intelligence, sustainability, and business planning. “I was honored to have the opportunity to come because I believe there is a platform here where we can discuss the global opportunities we have,” she said, highlighting how these discussions will shape the tourism industry over the next ten years.

The executive explained that artificial intelligence is transforming the visitor experience: “It can help us be much more efficient and strategic. In New York, we have two chatbots, one for meeting planners and another for leisure guests. Learning from international colleagues allows us to advance in this area.”

Another point highlighted by Coker was the reuse and adaptation of iconic and historic locations to enhance the visitor experience. “We have done a lot of that in New York, and hearing how colleagues are doing it in cities like Paris and Tokyo provides very valuable insights,” she added.

Coker also mentioned the relevance of upcoming events, such as America’s 250th anniversary and the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where New York will host eight matches, including the finals, which will increase the city’s international appeal.

Finally, Coker underscored the fascination of New Yorkers with Saudi Arabia, a country that has opened its doors to international tourism since 2019, and highlighted the importance of the Middle East market for New York tourism, even though it is not its primary market.