RIYADH: Countries worldwide have committed to advancing a more sustainable tourism sector that embraces digital transformation and addresses workforce challenges.
The Riyadh Declaration on the Future of Tourism was unveiled during the UN Tourism 26th General Assembly, hosted in Saudi Arabia.
The declaration emphasizes that ministers “acknowledge that the global tourism sector is at a turning point in how people travel, how destinations evolve, and how communities thrive.” It also recognizes that rapid technological advancements — including artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies — are reshaping the global tourism landscape.
The document outlines 11 pledges, starting with a commitment for all member states to “act immediately to advance and accelerate progress towards a more sustainable tourism sector that balances environmental stewardship, economic vitality, and social well-being.”
It also encourages countries to “advance and promote the responsible adoption of digital transformation and innovation in the tourism sector by incentivizing investment in digital infrastructure, taking into account different levels of infrastructural development.”
