- Senior leaders from Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Tourism, King Salman Gate Project, Red Sea Global, King Saud University, Qiddiya and Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism to explore education, career pathways and leadership development
- The Future Stage will examine the talent required to support Saudi Arabia’s ambition to attract 150 million visitors and create more than one million tourism jobs by 2030
- 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
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, August 2026: As Saudi Arabia moves into the next phase of its tourism transformation, developing the skills, leadership and local capabilities required to translate unprecedented investment into sustainable economic value will become increasingly important, according to Ibrahim Osta, Senior Economic Growth Director and Global Tourism Lead at Chemonics International, and Professor of Management at the George Washington University School of Business.
According to the latest tourism-establishment data from Saudi Arabia’s General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT), cited by Osta, the Kingdom already has just over one million employees in tourism activities, but only about one-quarter are Saudi nationals. According to Osta, the challenge is therefore no longer simply about generating employment but about ensuring that Saudi talent can enter the sector, develop specialist skills, and progress as the tourism economy expands.
“Saudi Arabia has created tourism employment at remarkable speed. The next phase is about depth: Saudi nationals entering the sector, building specialist expertise, progressing into leadership, and increasingly creating businesses of their own. Scale and depth have to advance together. That is how rapid employment growth becomes lasting national capability,” said Osta.
“Training centres alone do not create careers. Careers are created when occupational standards, employer demand, recognised qualifications, real hiring pathways and opportunities for progression are connected. The question our panel will explore with employers, educators and government is not simply how many people we train, but whether the system enables talented Saudi nationals to enter the sector, build expertise and see a credible path into leadership,” he added.
These themes will form part of the wider industry discussion at the inaugural WTM Spotlight Riyadh, taking place from 8–10 September 2026 at the Riyadh Front Exhibition & Conference Center (RFECC). Bringing together Saudi and international tourism leaders, policymakers, educators and industry experts, the event will explore the opportunities and challenges shaping the Kingdom’s rapidly evolving tourism economy as it advances the ambitions of Vision 2030.
On the final day of the event, Osta will moderate the Future Stage session Talent & Leadership Panel: One Million Tourism Careers – Delivering Saudi Arabia’s Tourism Vision Beyond 2030, held in partnership with Chemonics International. The session will examine the talent and leadership required to support the Kingdom’s ambition to attract 150 million visitors and create more than one million tourism jobs by 2030, with a particular focus on the priorities needed as Saudi tourism moves from rapid expansion into its next phase of growth.
The session will bring together senior perspectives from across this emerging talent ecosystem. Panellists include Salem Al Shahrani, Chief of Staff, Rua Al Haram Al Makki, King Salman Gate Project; Raed Alghamdi, Assistant Manager – Education and Capability Building, Red Sea Global; Fahad Alhuqbani, Vice Dean for Graduate Studies and Scientific Research, College of Tourism & Archaeology, King Saud University; The Hon. Edmund C. Bartlett, OJ.CD.MP. LLD (Hon), Minister of Tourism, Jamaica; Muhannad Alghanmi, Director, Leadership Development, Qiddiya; and Salman A. Alarifi, General Manager of Technology Enablement, Ministry of Tourism, Saudi Arabia.
Looking beyond 2030, the skills required to support Saudi Arabia’s tourism ambitions will continue to evolve as the Kingdom’s visitor economy grows in scale and sophistication, with technology playing an increasingly important role across destinations, operations, and the visitor experience.
Salem Al Shahrani, Chief of Staff, Rua Al Haram Al Makki, King Salman Gate, said: “The tourism workforce of the future is not one workforce. A destination needs engineering and infrastructure, hospitality, retail, culture, mobility and technology, and all of those disciplines have to come together as one operating system.
“King Salman Gate is expected to generate more than 300,000 jobs by 2036 across an integrated destination adjacent to AlMasjid AlHaram, serving residents, pilgrims and visitors. The opportunity for Saudi Arabia is to build Saudi expertise across that full range of professions, with clear pathways into specialist and leadership roles, rather than thinking about tourism careers only in frontline terms.”
The next generation of tourism leaders will require a broader mix of capabilities, spanning AI and data analytics, digital marketing and revenue management, immersive technologies such as AR and VR, crowd management, event operations, risk and safety, sustainability, bilingual guest service, and cross-cultural intelligence.
Danielle Curtis, Regional Portfolio Director – UAE, RX, said: “Saudi Arabia has demonstrated extraordinary ambition in developing its tourism sector, and the next phase is about ensuring the talent pipeline evolves at the same pace. As destinations, giga-projects, hospitality developments and visitor experiences continue to come online, investing in people will be fundamental to translating that growth into lasting economic impact.
“The scale of opportunity for young Saudi nationals is particularly exciting because tourism careers now extend far beyond traditional hospitality roles. WTM Spotlight Riyadh provides an important platform to bring employers, educators, government and international experts together to explore how we build those pathways earlier, develop future leaders and ensure Saudi talent plays a defining role in delivering the Kingdom’s tourism ambitions beyond 2030.”
WTM Spotlight Riyadh has been created to facilitate this exchange of knowledge and expertise, connecting Saudi Arabia’s rapidly developing tourism ecosystem with international markets, businesses and industry leaders.
By connecting the world to Saudi Arabia and Saudi Arabia to the world, WTM Spotlight Riyadh will provide a platform for collaboration, knowledge exchange, and commercial opportunities as the Kingdom continues to build the people, businesses, and experiences required for the next chapter of its tourism transformation.
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. For exhibitor enquiries, please click here.
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 Chemonics International:
Chemonics International is a global leader in sustainable tourism and destination development, with more than 50 years of experience advancing tourism in over 60 countries. We work with governments, destinations, the private sector, and communities to turn tourism ambitions into competitive destinations, stronger institutions, investment, jobs, and lasting economic opportunity. Our expertise spans tourism strategy and policy, destination planning and management, product and experience development, investment and enterprise growth, destination branding, cultural and natural heritage, and tourism workforce development. As a multidisciplinary professional services company, we bring international expertise, local knowledge, and implementation capacity to help destinations move from vision to results.
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 42 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.
Next event: 14-17 September 2026 at Dubai World Trade Centre in Dubai.
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.
Next event: 3 – 5 November 2026 at ExCel London.
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.
Next event: 13-15 April 2027 – Expo Center Norte, SP, Brazil.
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.
Next event: 7-9 April 2027 – Cape Town International Convention Centre, Cape Town
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/
Photo: Riyadh Skyline by B.alotaby (Wikimedia Commons), cropped for this release, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
