Riyadh, September 24, 2023, The forthcoming World Tourism Day (WTD) scheduled to take place in Riyadh from September 27 to 28 has unveiled its impressive lineup of speakers and participants. Over 500 attendees, including government officials, industry leaders, and experts hailing from 120 different countries, are anticipated at this year's event, underlining the significance of WTD 2023 in shaping the future trajectory of the global tourism sector.
The diverse array of high-level speakers underscores the collective commitment of the industry to acknowledge its achievements while addressing the most pressing challenges it faces. Among the prominent speakers announced today are Saudi Arabia's Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khateeb, Secretary-General of the United Nations World Tourism Organization Zurab Pololikashvili, Saudi Arabia's Minister of Investment Khalid Al Falih, Deputy Tourism Minister Princess Haifa bint Mohammed Al Saud, South Africa's Minister of Tourism Patricia de Lille, Croatia's Minister of Tourism and Sports Nikolina Brnjac, Turkiye's Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Ersoy, Spain's Secretary of State at the Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Tourism Rosa Ana Morillo Rodriguez, CEO of the World Travel and Tourism Council Julia Simpson, Secretary General of the Global Tourism Economy Forum Pansy Ho, CEO of Saudi Arabian Airlines (SAUDIA) Captain Ibrahim Koshy, CEO of MSC Cruises Pierfrancesco Vago, CEO of Travelport Greg Webb, CEO of Virtuoso Matthew Upchurch, and CEO of OYO Ritesh Agarwal.
UN Secretary General António Guterres emphasized the transformative power of tourism, highlighting its role in promoting progress and mutual understanding. Guterres stressed the importance of safeguarding and nurturing this force, especially through green investments, to ensure that tourism contributes positively to both people and the planet.
WTD 2023 will center around the theme "Tourism and Green Investments," with a focus on fostering global collaboration to explore investment opportunities that enhance the tourism industry's resilience and steer it toward a sustainable future guided by investments. Over the course of the two-day event, keynote speeches and panel discussions will revolve around the UNWTO's core themes: people, planet, and prosperity. Participants will delve into the transformative potential of tourism in bridging cultures, preserving the environment, and fostering a more interconnected world.
The first day of the event will delve into the UNWTO theme "Tourism and Green Investments" through a series of panel discussions addressing various topics, including the role of tourism in building bridges, investments in human capabilities, the potential of lesser-known tourism destinations, challenges and solutions for sustainability, and bridging the innovation gap and fostering entrepreneurship. The day will culminate in a gala dinner hosted at Saudi Arabia's UNESCO heritage site, Diriyah.
On the second day, the Tourism Leaders Forum will take place under the theme "Tourism for People, Prosperity, and Intercultural Dialogue." This will involve a public sector session exploring the prospects for a sustainable future in the industry, as well as a private sector event focusing on seamless end-to-end travel.
Saudi Arabia will pass on the Chair of the event to Georgia, which will host the event next year. The grand scale of the event being hosted in Riyadh underscores the Saudi government's commitment to the global tourism sector's development. Saudi Arabia was elected as the Chair of the Executive Council of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) for 2023 and previously hosted the World Travel and Tourism Council's Global Summit in Riyadh last year.
According to the recent UNWTO Barometer Report, the Middle East reported the most favorable tourism results for January-July 2023, with arrivals surpassing pre-pandemic levels by 20%. Saudi Arabia, in particular, witnessed remarkable double-digit growth at +58%, showcasing its resurgence in the tourism sector.
