Riyadh: Under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, the inaugural TOURISE Summit opened today in Riyadh under the theme 'The Giant Step Into the Future', and will run until November 13 at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center. The event brings together leading global leaders, decision-makers, innovators, and visionaries in the tourism sector.
According to Saudi Press Agency, the first edition of TOURISE-held immediately after the 26th session of the UN Tourism General Assembly hosted by the Kingdom-aims to turn bold ideas into practical solutions and launch transformative initiatives that will shape the global tourism sector over the next 50 years. It seeks to reimagine collaborative ways that strengthen interactions among tourism-related sectors, discover opportunities where competitors become partners, enhance investment efficiency, and unify cross-sector efforts to foster cooperation and integration.
In his opening address, Minister of Tourism and Chairman of TOURISE Ahmed Al-Khateeb stated: 'TOURISE is not just an event; it is a joint action platform through which we will address the challenges that have long constrained tourism's full potential, including skills, investment, infrastructure, sustainability, and digital transformation.' He emphasized the summit's role in delivering attractive returns for investors, accessible and quality experiences for travelers, and job creation for local communities.
TOURISE features broad regional and international participation, with over 140 international speakers from global leaders, decision-makers, innovators, and pioneers in the tourism sector. Notable participants include CEO of Expedia Ariane Gorin, Founder of onepoint5 Ambassador Patricia Espinosa, Interim CEO of the World Travel and Tourism Council Gloria Guevara, and many others.
The event's agenda highlights the convergence of diverse sectors to spark dialogues and build unprecedented partnerships. These collaborations aim to drive the creation of modern business models, improved traveler experiences, and sustainable destinations. The summit includes more than 40 panel discussions and over 15 workshops focused on addressing challenges, investing in growth opportunities, catalyzing major investments, and developing future policies.
The inaugural edition emphasizes five pivotal future aspirations: innovative technology, borders and bridges, attracting the next generation of tourists, creating value through tourism experiences, and designing future destinations. During day one, the summit announced the winners of the 2025 TOURISE Awards, recognizing leading destinations in building cultural bridges and offering exceptional experiences across five categories: Arts and Culture, Adventure, Food and Culinary, Shopping, and Entertainment.