The Global Center for Sustainable Tourism is launching a campaign to unite stakeholders and ensure that tourism remains the main engine of growth for societies around the world

- Saudi Arabia puts tourism on the world stage for the first time in the Future Development Initiative FII 2021, launching the principles of redesigning tourism

Spain, a founding member of the World Tourism Organization, joins the efforts of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the future industry

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RIYADH - Broadcast: Saudi Arabia's efforts to redesign the future of tourism accelerated this week with a series of major initiatives in Riyadh.

For the first time in the FII Institute’s history, tourism is at the forefront of the global agenda thanks to a special summit held under the title “Redesign Tourism” which laid the foundations for future success, uniting more than 150 tourism leaders around the world from the public sectors and private. During the summit, the Ministry of Tourism launched five principles for redesigning tourism with the support of governments and the private sector, which were endorsed by the summit participants.

Following the extraordinary summit, Mr. Ahmed Al-Khatib, Minister of Tourism of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and Mrs. Maria Reyes Maroto, Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism of the Kingdom of Spain agreed to work together to build a more resilient, sustainable and inclusive tourism sector that provides long-term prosperity.

The news comes after Saudi Arabia announced the Global Center for Sustainable Tourism, a global alliance that will not only help the industry achieve net zero goals, but will also work to ensure that tourism becomes a major driver of growth for communities around the world, and works with international partners to provide the tools to support the sector. in developing countries.

Ahmed Al-Khatib, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Tourism, said: “This industry is very important. It connects countries, and Saudi Arabia plays a very important role today, developing a number of initiatives including the Global Center for Sustainable Tourism, to build resilience and ensure that tourism provides The growth and opportunity we all want and need.

Princess Haifa bint Muhammad bin Saud Al Saud, Deputy Minister of Tourism for Strategy and Investment at the Saudi Ministry of Tourism, said: “We need to strengthen cooperation, sit at a common table, listen to and understand issues, agree on what the issues are, and chart a way forward. During the financial crisis in In 2008 we said that banks are too big to fail. Today, I say that global tourism is too big to fail."

Julia Simpson, President and CEO of the World Travel and Tourism Council, added: “Tourism and travel are a driving force for the global economy. At the height of the Corona pandemic, the Kingdom brought together the public and private sectors under its G20 presidency. Today, tourism and travel leaders are attending to revive this sector.”