RIYADH: The Arab Tourism Organization on Sunday highlighted that hosting the 26th General Assembly of the UN Tourism in Riyadh underscores Saudi Arabia’s growing role in shaping the global tourism agenda through strategic international dialogue.
The four-day event — the largest General Assembly in UNWTO’s 50-year history and the first ever held in the Gulf Cooperation Council region — brought together around 160 delegations, including ministers, senior officials, and industry leaders.
Discussions focused on leveraging innovation, digital transformation, and artificial intelligence to drive sustainable growth in the tourism sector.
Organized by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Tourism, the assembly featured four plenary sessions and seven specialized committee meetings, all emphasizing the integration of AI and digital solutions to enhance sustainable tourism and international cooperation.
Riyadh’s world-class infrastructure and thriving hospitality sector provided a fitting backdrop, demonstrating the Kingdom’s commitment to hosting high-profile global events. Notable achievements during the Assembly included the inauguration of the first UN Tourism Regional Office for the Middle East and Saudi Arabia’s leadership as chair of the UNWTO Executive Council for 2023-24.
