WTM Spotlight Riyadh has announced the Ministry of Tourism as Strategic Partner for its inaugural edition, strengthening the event’s focus on international tourism collaboration, investment and the continued development of Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector under Saudi Vision 2030.
WTM Spotlight Riyadh will take place from 8–10 September 2026 at the Riyadh Front Exhibition & Conference Center (RFECC). The event is designed to connect international tourism businesses and destinations with Saudi Arabia while providing opportunities for Saudi tourism stakeholders to engage with the global travel industry.
The event will bring together destinations, tourism authorities, hospitality providers, airlines, travel technology companies, investors, buyers, consumers and industry leaders to explore business opportunities across Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector.
Tourism is a key part of Saudi Arabia’s economic diversification strategy under Vision 2030. The Kingdom has set targets to increase tourism’s contribution to GDP and attract 150 million domestic and international visitors annually by the end of the decade.
The partnership between the Ministry of Tourism and WTM Spotlight Riyadh will support engagement between Saudi Arabia and international travel markets, with a focus on investment, business connections and long-term tourism development.
The inaugural event is expected to attract exhibitors, visitors, international travel and tourism leaders and hosted buyers. As a B2B2C platform, WTM Spotlight Riyadh will cover different areas of the travel and tourism ecosystem and support both Saudi Arabia’s inbound tourism objectives and access to its outbound travel market.
Danielle Curtis, Regional Portfolio Director, UAE, RX, said: “Our strategic partnership with the Ministry of Tourism is a defining moment for the inaugural WTM Spotlight Riyadh and reflects the Kingdom’s ambition to play an even greater role in shaping the future of global tourism. We are proud to be working alongside the Ministry to create an event that brings together decision-makers from across the international travel industry and supports Saudi Arabia’s long-term tourism ambitions.
“WTM Spotlight Riyadh has been designed to create meaningful business connections, encourage the exchange of ideas and provide international travel professionals with direct access to one of the world’s fastest-growing tourism markets. Together with the Ministry, we are building an event that reflects the ambition and scale of Saudi Arabia’s tourism transformation.”
The partnership is aligned with Saudi Vision 2030 and aims to support international partnerships, investment and collaboration across the Kingdom’s travel and tourism industry.
