Based on Vision 2030, the inaugural event brings together elite global leaders to transform the Kingdom’s ambitions into a sustainable tourism reality and promising investment opportunities for Arabs and the world.

Riyadh - Saudi Arabia

In its inaugural session, which runs from September 8 to 10, 2026 at the Riyadh Front Exhibition and Convention Center, the “World Travel Market - Spotlight Riyadh” exhibition reveals an ambitious conference program that extends over three days. The program aims to dissect the major transformation phase that the tourism sector is witnessing in the Kingdom, taking Saudi Vision 2030 as a basic starting point for discussing ways to transform this rapid growth into sustainable economic and social value.

Day one...from vision to sustainable value

The opening day is titled “Advancing Growth within the Framework of Saudi Vision 2030,” as it focuses on transforming tourism growth into long-term gains. Samer Al-Kharashi, Director of the Regional Office for the Middle East of the United Nations Tourism Authority, reviews the latest research on the role of tourism in accelerating rural development, while preserving culture and nature and enhancing the quality of life.
The sessions will witness a rich discussion on the economics of the sector, with Dave Goodger, Managing Director of Europe, the Middle East and Africa at Tourism Economics, presenting his vision on trends in demand, spending and tourism volume, highlighting the promising opportunities in the inbound and domestic tourism sectors.

Decision makers... CEOs discuss flexibility and adaptation

In a dialogue session that brings together CEOs from the tourism, aviation and hospitality sectors, Muzammil Hussain (CEO of Almosafer Travel and Tourism), Taha Nasser (Acting CEO of Saudi Cruise), and Sanjeev Kapoor (Acting CEO of Flyadeal), participate in a discussion about flexibility and the ability to adapt in light of global changes.
In this context, Danielle Curtis, Regional Director of the RX Portfolio in the Emirates, said: “The tourism sector in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is witnessing rapid growth, which creates investment and development opportunities for tourist destinations... The World Travel Market-Spotlight Riyadh exhibition will bring together the most prominent international experiences, the latest studies and research, and viewpoints from various actors that directly contribute to shaping the features of the sector and its development.”

The second day: Targeting Saudi tourist spending amounting to $35 billion

The second day focuses on the growing demand for foreign travel, in light of the Kingdom’s importance as a global source market. A session entitled “The $35 Billion Opportunity – How and Where to Benefit from the Demand for Travel Abroad” will discuss ways to transform this huge demand into a real market share, with the participation of Torab Saleem (CEO of Perfetti Hospitality) and Faisal Al Rajhi (Co-Founder and CEO of the Airport Company). A session, in cooperation with Dragon Trail International, will also be devoted to evaluating Chinese travel opportunities after the Kingdom was approved as a major tourist destination.

A golden opportunity for Arab investors and entrepreneurs
Such an event is an essential milestone for Arab investors and businessmen, as the Kingdom presents to them unprecedented investment opportunities in the tourism sector, whose market size is currently estimated at between 54 and 135 billion dollars, with expectations of a huge jump of up to 240 billion dollars. The second day represents an ideal platform to explore the needs of the Saudi market in the sectors of luxury tourism, conference and exhibition tourism, and sporting events, which opens broad horizons for strategic partnerships with major Saudi entities such as “Red Sea International,” “Qiddiya,” and “Al-Ula.”

Day three: exceptional experiences and integrated destinations

The closing day is titled “Advancing Interconnected Experiences and Destinations,” and showcases how to transform huge investments and infrastructure into amazing tourism experiences. Muhammad Basrawi, Head of Marketing and Destinations at Qiddiya, reviews the model of combining attractions, entertainment and culture. The sessions will also discuss mechanisms for establishing integrated tourist corridors across aviation, cruise and railway networks, with discussions devoted to sports and religious tourism and the role of artificial intelligence in revolutionizing the traveler’s experience.
A global event that connects the Kingdom with the world

The exhibition, which opens registration for visitors from travel professionals, seeks to be a pivotal platform for exchanging knowledge and exploring business opportunities, at a time when the Kingdom continues to build an integrated tourism system capable of competing globally, thus achieving its ambitious goals of receiving 150 million visitors annually by 2030.