– Saudi Arabia presents top tourism leaders and global ministers on World Tourism Day 2023 speakers line-up
· More than 500 government officials, industry leaders and experts from 120 countries will come to Riyadh for this event, which will make this year’s celebration the largest and most impactful World Tourism Day in its 43-year history.
· Speakers include His Excellency Ahmed Al-Khateeb, Minister of Tourism of Saudi Arabia; Zurab Pololikashvili, Secretary General of the United Nations World Tourism Organization; His Excellency Rosa Ana Morillo Rodríguez, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism of Spain; Patricia de Lille, Minister of Tourism of South Africa; Julia Simpson, CEO of the World Travel and Tourism Council, and Matthew Upchurch, CEO of Virtuoso.
· The breadth of high-level attendees demonstrates the importance of World Tourism Day 2023, held in Riyadh, in charting the future of growth in the global tourism sector.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Sept. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Details of the speakers for this year’s World Tourism Day (WTD), which will be held in Riyadh from September 27 to 28, have been revealed. With more than 500 government officials, industry leaders and experts from 120 countries coming to Riyadh to attend the event, the level of attendance demonstrates the importance of DMT 2023 in charting the future of growth in the global tourism sector.
The breadth of high-level speakers highlights the collective industry-wide drive to celebrate the sector’s successes while exploring solutions to its most pressing challenges. Speakers announced today include:
· His Excellency Ahmed Al-Khateeb, Minister of Tourism of Saudi Arabia
· Zurab Pololikashvili, Secretary-General of the United Nations World Tourism Organization
· His Excellency Khalid Al Falih, Minister of Investment of Saudi Arabia
· Her Highness Princess Haifa Bint Mohammed Al Saud, Deputy Minister of Tourism
· Her Excellency Patricia de Lille, Minister of Tourism of South Africa
· Her Excellency Nikolina Brnjac, Minister of Tourism and Sports of the Republic of Croatia
· His Excellency Mehmet Ersoy, Minister of Culture and Tourism of Turkey
· Her Excellency Rosa Ana Morillo Rodríguez, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism of Spain
· Julia Simpson, CEO of the World Travel and Tourism Council
· Pansy Ho, Secretary General of the World Economic and Tourism Forum
· Captain Ibrahim Koshy, CEO of Saudi Arabian Airlines (SAUDIA)
· Pierfrancesco Vago, CEO of MSC Cruises
· Greg Webb, CEO of Travelport
· Matthew Upchurch, CEO of Virtuoso
· Ritesh Agarwal, CEO, OYO
António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, highlighted: “Tourism is a powerful force for progress and mutual understanding. But to produce its full benefits, this force must be protected and nurtured. On this World Tourism Day, we recognize the “vital need for green investments to build a tourism sector that benefits people and the planet. Let’s do more to harness the full potential of sustainable tourism. Because investing in sustainable tourism is investing in a better future for all.”
WTD 2023 will be held under the theme “Green Tourism and Investment” with the aim of fostering global collaboration to examine investment opportunities to strengthen the resilience of the tourism industry, guiding the sector towards an investment-driven future and focused on sustainability. At this two-day event, tourism leaders will participate in keynote speeches and panel discussions around three core UNWTO themes: people, planet and prosperity. Participants will explore the power of tourism and the sector’s role in building bridges between cultures, preserving the environment and promoting a more harmonious and interconnected world.
The first day will explore the UNWTO theme “Green Tourism and Investments” through panels ranging from the power of tourism to build bridges; investment in human capabilities; the potential of less traveled tourist destinations; the challenges and solutions to achieve a sustainable future; to reducing the innovation gap and boosting entrepreneurship. On the evening of the first day, a gala dinner will be held in Diriyah, a UNESCO heritage site in Saudi Arabia, in celebration of WTD 2023.
The Tourism Leaders Forum will be held on the second day under the theme “Tourism for people, prosperity and intercultural dialogue.” A public sector session will examine the sustainable future of the sector, while a private sector session will explore seamless end-to-end travel. Saudi Arabia and Georgia will also hold a DMT 2024 handover session, before Georgia hosts the event next year.
The magnitude of the event being held in Riyadh highlights the importance that the Saudi government attaches to the development of the global tourism sector. The Kingdom was elected president of the Executive Council of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) for 2023, and last year hosted the World Summit of the World Travel and Tourism Council in Riyadh.
According to the recent UNWTO Barometer Report, the Middle East recorded the best results in January-July 2023, with arrivals 20% above pre-pandemic levels. The region remains the only one to have surpassed 2019 levels to date, with extraordinary double-digit growth in Saudi Arabia (58%).
About the Ministry of TourismThe Ministry of Tourism of Saudi Arabia was founded in 2020, following the opening of Saudi Arabia to international tourists in 2019. The Ministry spearheads the Kingdom’s Vision to bring Saudi tourism to the forefront. Their efforts align with the Kingdom’s ambitious goals, which seek to create 1 million jobs for its citizens, enable accelerated and sustainable growth with future-focused policies, data-led investment and talent development, welcome 100 million tourist visits by 2030 and amplify the sector’s GDP contribution from 3% to 10%. To this end, the Ministry of Tourism issues licenses and classifications for tourist activities and creates and approves regulations on tourist visas.
About UNWTOThe World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) is the specialized agency of the United Nations to promote tourism as a vehicle for equitable, inclusive and sustainable development. In collaboration with its Member States, international organizations and the private sector, UNWTO promotes safe and smooth travel for all. UNWTO also works to make tourism the basis of international trust and cooperation and a central pillar of growth and opportunity. As part of the broader United Nations system, UNWTO is at the forefront of global efforts to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including through its ability to create decent jobs, promote equality and preserve heritage. natural and cultural.
World Tourism Day Celebrations | UNWTO
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