Doha, February (پاکستان پوائنٹ نیوز 13 فبراير 2025ء) At the beginning of his speech, the minister thanked Qatar for hosting the meeting and expressed Saudi Arabia’s appreciation for its partners in the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) for their ongoing cooperation in advancing the tourism sector regionally and globally.
He highlighted the continuous efforts of the organization’s Regional Office for the middle East, based in Riyadh.
Minister Al Khateeb noted that the tourism sector in the Middle East has experienced continuous growth in recent years, positioning the region at the forefront of global tourism recovery.
He stated that in 2024, the Middle East welcomed over 95 million international tourists, marking an 11% increase from pre-pandemic levels. This, he said, reflects the region's unique tourism potential and the sector’s resilience in overcoming regional and global challenges.
Al Khateeb highlighted that the Kingdom has made a record contribution to the positive tourism performance of the Middle East over the past year. In 2024, Saudi Arabia welcomed nearly 30 million international tourists, achieving a growth rate of over 69% from 2019, according to figures from the UNWTO.
The minister emphasized the need for collaborative efforts among countries to address the challenges hindering the global tourism sector's development.
"Our successes have not obscured the need for comprehensive reform in the global tourism sector, which does not only focus on enhancing sustainability and environmental responsibility but also on facilitating tourist movement, improving access to unique destinations and experiences, and transforming the sector into a global space for cultural exchange and building bridges of understanding among peoples," he said.
Al Khateeb noted the significant efforts made by Saudi Arabia during its chairmanship of the UNWTO Executive Council to enhance the role of tourism and achieve global sustainability.
"Over the past two years, these themes have formed the pillars of the Kingdom's chairmanship of the Executive Council of the UNWTO," he stated. "We look forward to continuing this approach, relying on close cooperation with our sister countries that are members of the Regional Commission, to transform the tourism sector into a driver of social and economic growth and a starting point for building sustainable economies based on prosperity and improving the quality of life for our peoples."
The minister’s remarks come as Saudi Arabia is scheduled to host the 26th session of the UNWTO General Assembly from November 7 to 11. This will be the first time the Kingdom will host a UN general assembly, underscoring the Saudi leading role in fostering growth and enhancing international cooperation in the global tourism sector.
