📍 Riyadh – BETH Press

Under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, the first edition of the TOURISE Forum kicked off today in Riyadh under the theme “The Giant Step Ahead”, at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center, with the participation of global leaders, innovators, and decision-makers in the tourism sector.

The forum aims to transform bold ideas into practical solutions that drive major transformations in global tourism — by enhancing cross-sector collaboration, boosting investments, and shaping the future of the tourism industry for the next fifty years.

In his opening remarks, His Excellency Ahmed Al-Khateeb, Minister of Tourism and Chairman of TOURISE, emphasized that TOURISE is not merely an event, but a collaborative platform to tackle challenges related to skills, investment, infrastructure, sustainability, and digital transformation, noting that the goal is to turn ideas into real-world actions that make a tangible impact.

The forum gathers more than 140 global speakers, featuring 40 dialogue sessions and 15 workshops that focus on four key pillars: addressing challenges, unlocking growth opportunities, stimulating major investments, and developing future policies.

The event also announced the winners of the TOURISE 2025 Awards in five categories — Arts & Culture, Adventure, Culinary Arts, Shopping, and Entertainment — recognizing destinations that are redefining the future of global tourism through inspiring and transformative experiences.