KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 27 (Bernama) -- At the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting in Davos, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Tourism, Ahmed A. Al-Khateeb emphasised the critical role of the travel and tourism sector in shaping global economies and urged leaders to focus on collaborative solutions.
Saudi Arabia welcomed nearly 30 million international visitors in 2024, contributing almost five per cent to its gross domestic product (GDP), according to a statement.
Speaking in dedicated WEF sessions, the minister highlighted the Kingdom's significant growth in tourism since the launch of Saudi Vision 2030, stressing the importance of building a resilient, diversified tourism ecosystem.
With global tourism fully recovering to pre-pandemic levels in 2024, Minister Ahmed underscored the need for a sustainable approach that balances economic growth with social and environmental responsibility.
During WEF discussions, he participated in panels focused on mobilising diversified sector growth and enhancing global collaboration to propel the travel and tourism sector to keep up with growing demand.
The Minister shared the stage with distinguished leaders, including Albania Prime Minister Edi Rama, European Commissioner for Transport and Tourism Apostolos Tzitzikostas, Switzerland Tourism Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Martin Nydegger, and Trip.com CEO Jane Sun, who all shared his sentiment on the need for further global collaboration.
Aligned with Saudi Arabia’s forward-thinking tourism strategy, the Ministry of Tourism also launched the "Hospitality Investor White Paper" during the forum, aiming to attract US$11 billion in private investments, contribute US$4 billion to GDP, and create 1.6 million jobs by 2030. (US$1=RM4.37)
Minister Ahmed also contributed insights to WEF’s “The Future of Travel and Tourism: Embracing Sustainable and Inclusive Growth”, highlighting the need for sustainable travel and ensuring benefits for local communities.
Saudi Arabia’s active role at WEF reinforces its vision to become a leading hub for sustainable and inclusive tourism under Vision 2030.
-- BERNAMA
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