Taking place from 8-10 September at the Riyadh Front Exhibition & Conference Center (RFECC), WTM Spotlight Riyadh will connect the world to Saudi Arabia and Saudi Arabia to the world – supporting long-term industry growth through meaningful business connections and collaboration.
WTM Spotlight Riyadh will showcase the strength, resilience and rapid growth of Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector, bringing together global industry leaders to strengthen partnerships, explore new opportunities and reinforce confidence in one of the world’s fastest-growing tourism markets.
Exclusive insights from STR have highlighted the resilience of the Kingdom’s tourism sector, with Jeddah in particular performing well, with strong demand since March 2026 due to the city’s coastal location, resulting in growth being revised up and the rebound expected to continue through 2027. The data also indicated that giga-projects in Riyadh will support a rapid rebound in demand in 2027, with expectations to reach 2025 levels in February.
These findings align closely with Saudi Arabia’s own tourism trajectory. In Q1 2026, data from the Saudi Ministry of Tourism showed that visitor numbers increased by 8% year-on-year to 37.2 million, with tourist spending reaching SAR82.7 billion. Domestic tourism rose 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.
In 2025, the Kingdom welcomed nearly 123 million domestic and international visitors, generating more than SAR304 billion in tourism spending and surpassing Vision 2030 tourism milestones 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,” she added.
