Saudi Arabia Launches TOURISE to Reshape $11.7T Global Tourism Sector

Saudi Arabia has announced the launch of TOURISE, a groundbreaking global platform designed to redefine tourism governance and investment. The initiative aims to address the evolving challenges of the tourism sector, which is projected to contribute $11.7 trillion to the global economy in 2025, accounting for approximately 10% of global GDP.

A Vision for the Future of Tourism

TOURISE, spearheaded by Saudi Arabia's Minister of Tourism, Ahmed Al-Khateeb, seeks to unite industry leaders, policymakers, investors, and innovators to collaboratively shape the future of global tourism. The platform will serve as a year-round hub for dialogue, innovation, and sustainable development in the tourism sector.

Inaugural TOURISE Summit in Riyadh

The first TOURISE Summit is scheduled to take place in Riyadh from November 11 to 13, 2025. This invite-only event will gather top-tier professionals and thought leaders from around the world to discuss and strategize on the future of tourism. The summit will focus on four core themes:

• The Future of AI-Powered Tourism: Innovate or Fade
• The Great Tourism Reset: Disruptive Business Models and Investment
• Rebooting the Travel Experience: Upgrade in Progress
• Tourism that Works: For People, Planet, and Progress

These themes aim to address the integration of technology, the need for sustainable practices, and the importance of inclusive growth in the tourism industry.

TOURISE builds on Saudi Arabia’s growing role as a core contributor and driver in the global tourism landscape alongside major industry organizations including UN Tourism, WTTC, and the World Economic Forum (WEF). In 2024 alone, Saudi Arabia hit its Vision 2030 target of 100 million visitors annually, seven years early and the tourism sector contributed almost five 5% to the national GDP, second only to oil production. This underscores Saudi Arabia’s rising influence and long-term commitment to supporting tourism as a driver of global progress and growth. In building TOURISE with global partners – from multilateral institutions to private sector leaders – Saudi Arabia will ensure its leadership will deliver worldwide impact.