Riyadh, KSA – WTM Spotlight Riyadh is set to highlight the strength, resilience and rapid expansion of Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector, bringing together global and regional industry leaders to forge strategic partnerships, identify new opportunities and reinforce confidence in one of the world’s fastest-growing tourism markets.

Taking place from 8–10 September 2026 at the Riyadh Front Exhibition & Conference Center (RFECC), the event aims to connect the world with Saudi Arabia and Saudi Arabia with the world, creating a focused platform for meaningful business connections, collaboration and long-term industry growth.

Exclusive insights from STR underscore the resilience of Saudi Arabia’s tourism and hospitality sector, supported by strong domestic demand and continued investment. Jeddah, in particular, has recorded robust demand since March 2026, benefiting from its coastal location. As a result, growth forecasts have been revised upwards, with the recovery expected to continue through 2027. STR data also indicates that major giga-projects in Riyadh are likely to drive a rapid recovery in demand next year, with activity expected to return to 2025 levels by February 2027.

The findings are consistent with Saudi Arabia’s broader tourism performance. According to data from the Saudi Ministry of Tourism, visitor numbers rose by 8% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2026, reaching 37.2 million, while tourism spending climbed to SAR82.7 billion. Domestic tourism increased by 16% during the same period, reflecting strong local engagement with the Kingdom’s expanding tourism offering and growing confidence in the sector’s future.

The momentum follows a record-breaking 2025, when Saudi Arabia welcomed nearly 123 million domestic and international visitors and generated more than SAR304 billion in tourism spending, surpassing key Vision 2030 tourism targets ahead of schedule.

Danielle Curtis, Regional Portfolio Director, UAE, RX, said: “Tourism has consistently demonstrated an extraordinary ability to recover, adapt and grow, even in the face of significant challenges. Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector is an excellent example of this resilience. Supported by Vision 2030 and continued investment in tourism infrastructure, aviation, hospitality, and visitor experiences, the Kingdom has built a robust ecosystem that continues to generate growth, attract investment, and create opportunities across the travel value chain.

“By bringing together international and regional travel stakeholders, WTM Spotlight Riyadh provides a focused environment where meaningful business relationships can be established and developed, knowledge can be shared, and new opportunities can be unlocked.”

The resilience of the global travel sector will also be explored through research from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), developed in partnership with George Washington University and Chemonics International. The organisations will deliver three conference sessions during WTM Spotlight Riyadh, examining how destinations can recover from disruption and emerge stronger.

According to the research, no destination has experienced permanent collapse following a crisis. Instead, recovery has proven to be a consistent outcome and, in many cases, has been followed by stronger growth.

The report further highlights the importance of leadership, investment and collaboration in driving successful recovery. Ibrahim Osta, Senior Economic Growth Director & Global Tourism Lead at Chemonics International, said: “Recovery doesn’t just happen – it’s a decision. The destinations that came back fastest are the ones that made the bold decision to invest at the height of the crisis, protected their businesses, and controlled their own narrative when everyone else went quiet. That is not luck. That is leadership.”

Saudi Arabia has continued to invest heavily in aviation, hospitality and destination development, strengthening the foundations of its tourism ambitions. Passenger traffic across the Kingdom’s airports reached 140.9 million in 2025, while the country’s international connectivity network expanded to 176 destinations, according to data from the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT).

Investment in tourism infrastructure has also continued at pace, with new hospitality developments, expanded airport capacity, enhanced visitor experiences and major tourism projects supporting the Kingdom’s ambition to welcome 150 million visitors annually by 2030.

WTM Spotlight Riyadh has been designed to support this growth by creating a highly focused environment where destinations, tourism authorities, travel brands, hospitality providers, airlines, technology companies and buyers can build meaningful commercial relationships and explore new opportunities.

By connecting the world to Saudi Arabia and Saudi Arabia to the world, the event will provide international stakeholders with direct access to one of the global tourism industry’s most dynamic markets, while supporting the Kingdom’s long-term Vision 2030 ambitions.

The event is expected to attract more than 6,500 regional and international visitors and 150 international hosted buyers, creating a dedicated marketplace for industry leaders to exchange insights, develop partnerships and contribute to the continued resilience and growth of global tourism.

Positioned as a focused B2B2C platform, WTM Spotlight Riyadh will showcase the entire travel ecosystem, spanning destinations, hospitality providers, attractions, transportation, travel technology and tourism services. Through pre-arranged business meetings, curated networking opportunities and a comprehensive conference programme, the event will provide an environment designed to deliver meaningful commercial outcomes while advancing Saudi Arabia’s long-term tourism ambitions.

Aligned with Vision 2030, WTM Spotlight Riyadh will further reinforce Saudi Arabia’s role as a key driver of tourism innovation, investment and international collaboration, demonstrating how resilience, connectivity and strategic partnerships can help shape the future growth of global travel.