Saudi Arabia To Host Landmark UN Tourism Summit On AI, Future Of Travel
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 24 (Bernama) -- Saudi Arabia is set to host the 26th session of the United Nations (UN) Tourism General Assembly from Nov 7 to 11 in Riyadh, marking a milestone for both the Kingdom and global tourism diplomacy.
The session—held under the theme “AI-Powered Tourism: Redefining the Future”—will bring together over 160 member states, international organisations, and industry leaders to shape the next 50 years of tourism.
It also commemorates five decades of global collaboration under the UN’s specialised tourism agency, according to a statement.
Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Tourism, Ahmed Al Khateeb, hailed the event as a defining moment: “We look forward to hosting the world’s leading organisation for tourism in a session that will redefine global action in this increasingly vital sector and beyond.”
As the first Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nation to host a UN agency’s general assembly, Minister Al Khateeb said the milestone highlights global confidence in Saudi Arabia as a trusted platform for dialogue: “Our mission is to unite views and foster international cooperation that advances the Sustainable Development Goals.”
The Riyadh assembly will feature four plenaries, specialised committee meetings, a thematic session on artificial intelligence’s (AI) role in tourism, and the election of the next UN Tourism Secretary-General. It will also include the 124th and 125th Executive Council sessions, the organisation’s highest decision-making body.
Immediately following the assembly, Saudi Arabia will debut the TOURISE Summit (Nov 11 to 13)—a new global platform bringing together leaders from tourism, technology, sustainability, and culture to chart a forward-looking agenda for the industry.
With these back-to-back events, the Kingdom is asserting itself as a rising global hub for tourism, innovation, and international cooperation—and signalling its determination to make tourism a key pillar of Vision 2030’s economic transformation.
-- BERNAMA
