WTM Spotlight Riyadh has unveiled the conference programme for its inaugural edition, bringing together international and regional tourism leaders to examine opportunities emerging from Saudi Arabia’s rapidly expanding visitor economy.
The three-day event is scheduled to take place from September 8 to 10, 2026, at the Riyadh Front Exhibition & Conference Center (RFECC).
According to the organisers, the programme will focus on Saudi Arabia’s tourism transformation, with dedicated tracks covering Vision 2030, outbound market opportunities and connected destination experiences.
The conference will also examine tourism economics, policy and regulation, luxury travel, innovation, mobility, sports and religious tourism, talent development and artificial intelligence.
Vision 2030 takes centre stage
The opening day, themed “Driving Growth for Vision 2030,” will explore how Saudi Arabia can translate continued tourism growth into long-term economic and social value.
Samer Al-Kharashi, Director of the Regional Office for the Middle East at UN Tourism, is expected to draw on research in rural development to examine how tourism can accelerate regional growth while preserving culture and nature.
The discussions will also consider how tourism can strengthen community inclusion and improve quality of life.
UN Tourism will partner with Chemonics International for a session titled “Villages to Value Chains – Designing Community Tourism.”
The session will examine how locally rooted visitor experiences can create lasting economic benefits for communities and support sustainable tourism ecosystems.
Mohammed Almandiel, General Manager, Heritage Events and Programming, Ministry of Culture, is among the speakers scheduled to participate.
Tourism economics and industry resilience
The economic drivers behind Saudi Arabia’s tourism growth will also feature prominently during the conference.
Dave Goodger, Managing Director, EMEA, Tourism Economics, an Oxford Economics company, will assess the latest demand, spending and volume trends.
His session will examine where high-value opportunities are emerging across inbound and domestic tourism.
A chief executive panel will also explore resilience and adaptability across tourism, aviation and hospitality.
The panel will feature Muzzammil Ahussain, Chief Executive Officer of Almosafer Travel & Tourism Co; Taha Nazer, Acting Chief Executive Officer of Cruise Saudi; and Sanjiv Kapoor, Acting Chief Executive Officer of flyadeal.
Danielle Curtis, Regional Portfolio Director – UAE, RX, said Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector was developing at an extraordinary pace.
She said the growth was creating opportunities across investment, destination development and the wider visitor economy.
Curtis added that the conference would examine how the Kingdom’s tourism ambitions could translate into long-term economic value, exceptional visitor experiences and opportunities for communities.
Saudi outbound travel market in focus
The second day of the conference will focus on “Outbound Demand & Market Access,” reflecting Saudi Arabia’s growing importance as a global source market.
A dedicated super panel, titled “The $35BN Opportunity – How and Where to Capture Outbound Demand,” will examine how destinations and travel brands can convert Saudi Arabia’s significant outbound demand into market share.
Turab Saleem, Chief Executive Officer of Perfetti Hospitality, and Faisal Alrajhi, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of almatar, are among the speakers listed for the session.
The programme will also examine the future of MICE and luxury travel.
Discussions will consider what Saudi Arabia needs beyond venue supply to compete for international business events, as well as how luxury travel is moving towards more immersive, culturally relevant and purpose-led experiences.
Innovation and China-Saudi tourism opportunities
UN Tourism will host an Innovation Startup Showcase titled “How the Kingdom is Building Tourism’s Most Ambitious Ecosystem.”
The session will feature opening remarks and a keynote from UN Tourism, followed by a panel discussion on financing tourism’s future.
Panellists will include representatives from Red Sea Global, Eye Go and the Tourism Development Fund of Saudi Arabia.
A dedicated China-Saudi session with Dragon Trail International will also assess the growing Chinese travel opportunity following Saudi Arabia’s Approved Destination Status.
Other discussions will examine destinations that attract Saudi travellers and the growing role of wellness in premium travel.
Connected destinations and visitor experiences
The final day, themed “Elevated Experiences & Connected Destinations,” will focus on translating tourism investment and infrastructure into stronger visitor experiences.
Sessions will examine how aviation, cruise, rail and road networks can create integrated tourism corridors.
Muhammad Bassrawi, Chief Marketing and Destination Officer at Qiddiya, will discuss how attractions, entertainment, events and culture can combine to create more compelling visitor journeys.
Sports tourism will also feature in discussions around converting major events into year-round demand and repeat visitation.
A dedicated religious tourism session will examine the evolution of Umrah and pilgrimage through improvements in services, mobility and digital systems, as well as opportunities to encourage extended stays.
AI and the future of travel
Artificial intelligence will form part of the conference’s final discussions, with a session examining the growing role of agentic AI in travel.
Salman A. Alarifi, General Manager of Technology Enablement at the Ministry of Tourism Saudi Arabia, is scheduled to join the discussion.
The session will explore how AI could simplify trip planning, tailor recommendations and support travellers throughout their journeys.
It will also examine how the technology could change the way consumers discover, book and experience travel in Saudi Arabia and beyond.
Connecting Saudi Arabia with the global tourism industry
WTM Spotlight Riyadh has been created to connect the world to Saudi Arabia and Saudi Arabia to the world.
Alongside its conference programme, the B2B2C event will bring together destinations, hospitality providers, airlines, attractions, travel technology companies, buyers and consumers through business meetings, networking and commercial opportunities.
The organisers said the event would provide a platform for international travel brands to engage with one of the world’s fastest-growing tourism markets.
Visitor registration is open, with travel professionals invited to attend the inaugural event and engage directly with Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector.
The conference is expected to provide a platform for discussions on investment, destination development, market access and the technologies shaping the next phase of tourism growth.
As Saudi Arabia continues to advance its Vision 2030 ambitions, the event will place particular emphasis on how tourism growth can generate long-term economic value, strengthen communities and improve visitor experiences.
