Saudi Arabia Advocates for Tourism as Economic Infrastructure at World Economic Forum

During the World Economic Forum 2026 in Davos, Saudi Arabia's Minister of Tourism, Ahmed Al-Khateeb, urged global leaders to view tourism as essential economic infrastructure. He emphasized that tourism should not be seen as a mere discretionary sector but a strategic avenue for growth and resilience.

Saudi Arabia has made tourism a central pillar of its Vision 2030, contributing nearly 5% of its GDP and employing over 1 million people. In 2025, the Kingdom welcomed 30 million visitors, aiming for 150 million by 2030. The nation is also the largest investor in tourism globally, with initiatives like AlUla and Diriyah demonstrating its master planned approach.

The Minister highlighted 'Beyond Tourism,' a collaboration with the World Economic Forum to focus on sustainability, inclusion, and investment. He called upon worldwide governments to integrate tourism into economic policies for enhanced global cooperation.