- Inaugural WTM Spotlight Riyadh opens tomorrow at the Riyadh Front Exhibition & Conference Center RFECC
- The Ministry of Tourism confirmed as Strategic Partner, reflecting a shared commitment to supporting Saudi Arabia’s tourism ambitions under Vision 2030
- Three-day conference programme will explore the opportunities shaping the Kingdom’s tourism future, from Vision 2030 growth and outbound demand to connected destination experiences
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, September 2026: WTM Spotlight Riyadh, organised by RX, a global leader in events and exhibitions, will open its doors tomorrow, 8 September, marking the beginning of a new platform designed to connect the world to Saudi Arabia and Saudi Arabia to the world as the Kingdom continues its rapid tourism transformation under Vision 2030.
Taking place from 8–10 September at the Riyadh Front Exhibition & Conference Center (RFECC), the inaugural event has been created to provide the international travel industry with a dedicated opportunity to engage directly with one of the world’s fastest-evolving tourism markets, while connecting Saudi tourism stakeholders with global destinations, brands, travel buyers and industry leaders.
Saudi Arabia’s tourism industry has become central to the Kingdom’s economic diversification, with a target to contribute 10% of national GDP by the end of the decade. Sustained investment in hospitality, aviation, infrastructure, culture, entertainment, and destination development is creating new opportunities throughout the tourism value chain while strengthening Saudi Arabia’s position in the international travel landscape.
Supporting this ambition, WTM Spotlight Riyadh is honoured to welcome the Ministry of Tourism as Strategic Partner for the inaugural edition, reflecting a shared commitment to accelerating tourism growth, strengthening international collaboration and advancing the ambitions of Saudi Vision 2030.
Danielle Curtis, Regional Portfolio Director – UAE, RX, said: “The pace and scale of change taking place in Saudi Arabia make this an incredibly exciting moment for the travel industry. Vision 2030 has created an environment where tourism, investment, infrastructure, and visitor experiences are developing together, opening opportunities not only within the Kingdom but also across international markets engaging with Saudi Arabia.
“This transformation was central to our decision to launch WTM Spotlight Riyadh. As event organisers, our role is to create an environment where people can come together, deepen their understanding of the market, share knowledge, and turn conversations into meaningful partnerships and commercial opportunities.
“Tomorrow represents the beginning of that journey. Our ambition is for WTM Spotlight Riyadh to evolve alongside Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector and become an increasingly important platform for connecting Saudi Arabian and international travel businesses. We want the relationships and ideas that begin here to continue well beyond the event and contribute to the next chapter of the Kingdom’s tourism growth.”
Over three days, WTM Spotlight Riyadh will combine pre-arranged meetings and networking opportunities with a conference programme that examines the trends and opportunities shaping tourism in Saudi Arabia and internationally.
The programme will open under the theme of Driving Growth for Vision 2030 and will explore how tourism growth can deliver long-term economic and social value, before Outbound Demand & Market Access examines the growing influence of Saudi travellers on day two. The final day, Elevated Experiences & Connected Destinations, will focus on the future visitor journey, from mobility and attractions to talent and technology.
The programme reflects the increasingly interconnected nature of Saudi Arabia’s inbound and outbound tourism opportunity. As investment continues to strengthen the Kingdom’s international visitor proposition, Saudi travellers are simultaneously becoming an increasingly influential audience for destinations and travel brands worldwide. WTM Spotlight Riyadh has been designed to bring both sides of this opportunity together within a focused B2B2C environment.
The event is further supported by strategic partners from across Saudi Arabia’s tourism ecosystem, including Fairmont Ramla and Fairmont Riyadh as Official Hotel Partners and Almosafer Travel & Tourism Co. as Official Journey Partner, reflecting the collaborative approach underpinning the inaugural edition.
Through its combination of commercial exchange, industry insight and international collaboration, WTM Spotlight Riyadh will provide a new meeting point for an industry responding to the opportunities created by Saudi Arabia’s transformation, while supporting the wider ambitions of Vision 2030.
Visitor registration for WTM Spotlight Riyadh is now open, with travel professionals invited to secure their place at the inaugural event and engage directly with one of the world’s fastest-growing tourism markets.
About WTM Spotlight Riyadh:
WTM Spotlight in Saudi Arabia is the definitive launchpad for Saudi Arabia’s tourism ambitions – a platform purpose-built to connect the Kingdom’s growing tourism sector with the global travel industry. The show promotes meaningful exchange between regional stakeholders and international players. It’s where global travel brands gain direct access to one of the most promising new markets, and where Saudi Arabia showcases its destinations, vision, and investment opportunities to the world. WTM Spotlight Riyadh plays a vital role in shaping the Kingdom’s journey as a rising force in global tourism.
About RX:
RX is a global leader in events and exhibitions, leveraging industry expertise, data, and technology to build businesses for individuals, communities, and organisations. With a presence in 25 countries across 41 industry sectors, RX hosts approximately 350 events annually. RX is committed to creating an inclusive work environment for all our people. RX empowers businesses to thrive by leveraging data-driven insights and digital solutions. RX is part of RELX, a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers.
About RELX:
RELX is a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. RELX serves customers in more than 180 countries and has offices in about 40 countries. It employs more than 36,000 people over 40% of whom are in North America. The shares of RELX PLC, the parent company, are traded on the London, Amsterdam and New York stock exchanges using the following ticker symbols: London: REL; Amsterdam: REN; New York: RELX. *Note: Current market capitalisation can be found at http://www.relx.com/investors
World Travel Market (WTM) portfolio comprises leading travel events and online portals across four continents.
The events are:
WTM Spotlight India is a refined, high-impact platform that brings the legacy of the globally renowned WTM portfolio to India – anchored by WTM London and spanning leading travel trade events including Arabian Travel Market, WTM Latin America, WTM Africa, and WTM Spotlight Riyadh.
Building on this heritage of excellence, innovation, and high-value connections, WTM Spotlight India will debut at Yashobhoomi in New Delhi, from 2–4 March, 2027. Designed as a curated, business-first experience, it offers a premium platform for India’s travel and tourism stakeholders to engage with global opportunities, foster strategic partnerships, and unlock growth in one of the world’s most dynamic travel markets.
Arabian Travel Market (ATM), now in its 33rd year, is held annually in Dubai – the gateway to global travel and tourism with unmatched connectivity – and is where the energy of opportunity comes to life.
More than just an event, ATM is a dynamic hub for industry communities, with forums, experiences, and networking that continue well beyond the show floor over the week. Now in a period of rapid expansion, ATM has grown by 16% year-on-year, attracting over 55,000 travel professionals from 166 countries.
WTM London is the world’s most influential travel & tourism event for the global travel community. The show is the ultimate destination for those seeking a macro view of the travel industry and a deeper understanding of the forces shaping it. WTM London is where influential travel leaders, buyers and high-profile travel companies gather to exchange ideas, drive innovation, and accelerate business outcomes.
WTM Latin America takes place annually in the city of São Paulo and attracts around 20,000 tourism professionals during the three-day event. The event offers qualified content together with networking and business opportunities. In its ninth edition – there have been eight face-to-face events along with a 100% virtual one, which was held in 2021 – WTM Latin America continued to focus on effective business generation, and achieved the booking of six thousand meetings that were held between buyers, travel agents and exhibitors in 2022.
WTM Africa launched in 2014 in Cape Town, South Africa. In 2022, WTM Africa facilitated more than 7,000 unique pre-scheduled appointments, an increase of more than 7% compared to 2019, and welcomed more than 6,000 visitors (unaudited), the same number as in 2019.
About ATW Connect: Africa Travel Week’s digital arm is a virtual hub packed to the seams with interesting content, industry news and insights, and the opportunity to hear from experts on a variety of topics in our new monthly webinar series. All with the aim of keeping all of us in the travel and tourism industry connected. ATW Connect focuses on inbound and outbound markets for general leisure tourism, luxury travel and the MICE/business travel sector as well as travel technology.
WTM Global Hub is the WTM Portfolio online portal created to connect and support travel industry professionals around the world. The resource hub offers the latest guidance and knowledge to help exhibitors, buyers and others in the travel industry face the challenges of the global coronavirus pandemic. WTM Portfolio is tapping into its global network of experts to create content for the hub.https://hub.wtm.com/
