المملكة: The tourism sector will top the agenda of the Davos Forum this year

Minister of Tourism, Ahmed bin Aqeel Al-Khatib, confirmed that the Kingdom’s participation in the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum 2025 in the Swiss city of Davos reflects its firm commitment to shaping the global dialogue on the travel and tourism sectors, as they are fundamental engines of economic growth and cultural exchange.
He explained that the tourism sector will top the agenda of the forum this year, during which the Kingdom’s achievements in this sector will be presented and partnerships will be strengthened that contribute to accelerating its growth globally.
He pointed out that the tourism sector in the Kingdom is witnessing unprecedented growth, supported by its Vision 2030 according to the National Transformation Program, which places it among the ranks of tourist destinations, adding that the Kingdom aims to receive 150 million tourists annually.

5% of GDP

Minister Al-Khatib stated that the tourism sector in the Kingdom currently contributes 5% of the gross domestic product, with expectations that this percentage will rise to 10% by 2030, driven by qualitative investments in a number of pioneering projects such as: the Red Sea, Diriyah and Qiddiya projects.

In addition to many private projects that work to develop the tourism sector throughout the Kingdom, he noted the Kingdom’s efforts to work to benefit from its natural and cultural components to set a global standard for tourism-led economic development.

Tourism is a pivotal component of the economy

Al-Khatib stressed that the tourism sector is the pivotal element in the economy, addressing the study of the economic impact of travel and tourism (EIR) of the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) for the year 2023, which showed that the global travel and tourism sector contributed 9.1% of the global gross domestic product, an increase of 23.2% over the year. the previous.
He explained that participating in Davos is a strategic opportunity to transform achievements into tangible global impact, through cooperation with leaders from various industries and sectors, with the aim of enhancing cooperation between the public and private sectors, establishing meaningful partnerships with international leaders, and affirming the role of the Kingdom, which is a bridge for global cooperation.