Saudi Arabia in Focus: WTM Spotlight Riyadh Reveals the Power of a High-Value Outbound Travel Market

A New Chapter for Global Travel Engagement

Saudi Arabia is rapidly emerging as one of the world’s most influential outbound travel markets, and this momentum will take centre stage at the inaugural WTM Spotlight Riyadh. Set to take place in September at the Riyadh Front Exhibition & Convention Centre, the event will bring together global travel leaders to explore how Saudi travellers are reshaping demand across international destinations.

With a growing appetite for premium accommodation, exceptional service and tailor-made experiences, Saudi outbound travel is entering a decisive growth phase. WTM Spotlight Riyadh will provide a platform to understand this evolution and connect with one of the highest-yield traveller segments globally.

A US$27.5 Billion Market on the Rise

Outbound travel expenditure from Saudi Arabia is estimated to reach US$27.5 billion in 2025, with projections indicating growth to US$47.8 billion by 2032. This expansion is being driven by higher disposable incomes, widespread digital adoption and increased confidence in international travel.

Research shows Saudi travellers are travelling more frequently and staying longer, with international bookings outside the MENA region rising sharply in early 2025. While classic destinations such as London, Paris, Istanbul, Rome and Cape Town remain popular, there is a clear shift toward discovering new and emerging destinations.

Countries such as Georgia and Azerbaijan are attracting interest for their climate and accessibility, Bosnia and Herzegovina for its halal-friendly European appeal, and parts of Southeast Asia for their modern halal infrastructure and premium offerings.

Luxury, Personalisation and Experience-Led Travel

Saudi travellers consistently demonstrate a preference for high-end travel experiences. A significant proportion book five-star and four-star hotels, with daily accommodation spending exceeding US$300. Comfort and service are equally prioritised in air travel, with the majority choosing full-service carriers for international journeys.

Shopping continues to play a central role in travel decision-making, often forming a primary motivation for overseas trips. Extended-family travel, customised itineraries and culturally sensitive experiences are also shaping destination choices, creating strong opportunities for tourism brands that understand and cater to this sophisticated market.

WTM Spotlight Riyadh: A Strategic Industry Platform

WTM Spotlight Riyadh is designed to facilitate meaningful business connections through curated itineraries, pre-scheduled meetings and focused knowledge-sharing sessions. The event is expected to welcome hundreds of exhibitors, thousands of regional and international visitors, and a strong cohort of international hosted buyers.

Dedicated learning sessions will provide practical insights into traveller behaviour, market trends and innovation, enabling destinations and travel brands to align their strategies with the expectations of Saudi travellers.

The event also plays a broader role in reinforcing Saudi Arabia’s position within global tourism, supporting both outbound market engagement and the Kingdom’s inbound tourism ambitions.

Strengthening Saudi Arabia’s Global Tourism Influence

As part of the global World Travel Market portfolio, WTM Spotlight Riyadh strengthens links between destinations, brands and buyers worldwide. It reflects Saudi Arabia’s expanding influence on international travel flows and highlights the Kingdom’s growing importance as a source market for high-value tourism.

By bringing the global travel community together in Riyadh, the event sets the stage for long-term collaboration, deeper market understanding and sustained growth across international tourism.

For more information on WTM Spotlight Riyadh, visit:
https://www.wtm.com

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WTM Spotlight in Saudi Arabia to highlight the Kingdom's expanding global tourism presence

As Saudi Arabia advances its Vision 2030 agenda, the first WTM Spotlight in Saudi Arabia will convene global travel leaders in Riyadh from 29 September to 1 October 2026. The landmark event will connect international and Saudi travel communities to explore the Kingdom's rapidly expanding inbound and outbound tourism markets.

Set against the backdrop of the Kingdom’s ambitious tourism targets, which include a 10% GDP contribution from tourism by 2030, the inaugural WTM Spotlight Riyadh will take place at the Riyadh Front Exhibition & Convention Centre (RFECC).

The event will unite over 450 exhibitors, 6,500 regional and international visitors, and 150 international hosted buyers, serving as a catalyst for partnerships, innovation, and investment. It will offer a platform for industry leaders to focus on inbound and outbound travel conversations by exploring the future of Saudi Arabia’s tourism, including mobility, hospitality, technology, sustainability, and visitor experiences.

Saudi Arabia's tourism sector is growing rapidly, driven by significant government investment and a national diversification strategy. The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) forecasts that the sector will contribute more than US$119 billion to the national economy in 2025, accounting for over 10% of GDP and supporting 2.7 million jobs. According to the UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), Saudi Arabia recorded the world's highest growth in international tourism spending during the first quarter of 2025, reflecting the country's success in attracting new visitors and investment.

The Ministry of Tourism recently announced record-breaking results for the "Saudi Summer" 2025 programme, which attracted more than 32 million domestic and international visitors, representing a 26% increase compared with summer 2024. Tourist expenditure during the period reached SAR 53.2 billion (US$14.2 billion), marking a 15% year-on-year growth.

Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market and WTM Spotlight Riyadh, said: “WTM SpotlightRiyadh will reflect the ambition and scale of the Kingdom’s tourism evolution. It will bring together Saudi and global travel leaders to share knowledge, forge partnerships, and explore new opportunities that strengthen the industry’s future. By hosting the event in Riyadh, we are creating a platform that highlights how Vision 2030 is transforming tourism, investment, and cultural exchange. Saudi Arabia’s progress is redefining the way the world experiences travel, and this event will showcase that transformation to a global audience.”

WTM Spotlight Riyadh will allow international buyers to experience Saudi Arabia directly, meet key stakeholders, and understand how Vision 2030 is transforming tourism. Curated itineraries and meetings will introduce global planners to major projects, new attractions, improved mobility, and hospitality developments, enabling them to get closer to this core market and create competitive travel itineraries that drive demand in the Kingdom.

Aviation expansion is key to Saudi Arabia’s tourism growth. The national strategy targets an increase in direct air routes from 100 to 250 destinations and aims to triple passenger capacity to 330 million annually by 2030. Major projects include Riyadh Air and King Salman International Airport, both designed to enhance connectivity and support inbound and outbound travel.

At the same time, WTM Spotlight Riyadh will highlight the growing influence of Saudi travellers, whose curiosity and spending power are reshaping outbound markets worldwide. The ATM Travel Trends Report 2025 notes that Middle East residents now account for 10% of global outbound travel while representing less than 5% of the global population. Saudi travellers are among the world’s highest spenders, averaging US$4,800 per international trip, and showing a strong preference for four- and five-star accommodation. Meanwhile, outbound spending from Saudi Arabia is valued at US$27.5 billion in 2025. It is forecast to reach US$47.8 billion by 2032, representing a compound annual growth rate of 8.2%, according to Coherent Market Insights' KSA Outbound Tourism Market Report (2024–2032).

For international destinations, airlines, hoteliers, and travel providers, WTM Spotlight Riyadh offers direct access to one of the world’s most valuable outbound markets. It connects international partners with Saudi buyers and consumers who are eager for authentic, luxury, and sustainable travel experiences and driving lucrative business opportunities.

Reflecting Vision 2030’s forward-looking approach, the event will also explore how travel technology, smart mobility, and innovation are redefining the visitor experience. The ATM Travel Trends Report 2025 projects that total tourism expenditure in the Middle East is expected to reach US$350 billion by 2030, driven by digital transformation and regional collaboration. WTM Spotlight Riyadh will provide a platform for discussions on how technology, investment, and sustainability are shaping the future of tourism in Saudi Arabia and beyond.

Saudi Arabia's hospitality industry continues to expand rapidly to meet demand from both domestic and international visitors.

The Ministry of Tourism reported an 89% year-on-year increase in licensed hotels, resorts, and guesthouses in early 2025. WTM Spotlight Riyadh will provide a meeting point for hotel groups, investors, and developers exploring opportunities in one of the fastest-growing hospitality markets in the world.

“WTM Spotlight Riyadh is designed to create meaningful connections that drive the Kingdom’s tourism ambitions forward. It will showcase Saudi Arabia’s leadership in innovation, sustainability, and investment, and its growing influence within the global travel community,” added Curtis.

WTM Spotlight Riyadh will coincide with Riyadh Season, an annual mega festival hosted as part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 Quality of Life Programme, offering attendees the opportunity to experience the Kingdom’s vibrant cultural and entertainment calendar. As part of the global WTM portfolio, which includes WTM London, WTM Africa, WTM Latin America, and Arabian Travel Market (ATM), the event will strengthen Saudi Arabia’s role within the international tourism community, connecting destinations, brands, and buyers across continents.

London Travel Week lifts lid on content creation and how it’ll change post-COVID

Travel influencers say people who think their global-trotting lifestyle is easy are sadly mistaken – while destination representatives warn it’s going to get tougher for content creators once tourist boards come out of the coronavirus pandemic.

During London Travel Week Virtual Content Creators’ Summit, influencers explained the reality of working on content marketing for destinations, saying it’s much harder than people think.

Erick Prince, content creator at Minority Nomad, said:

“People think it’s an easy job for us – that we are running around having fun.
“The creative side is 25% of what you are doing. It’s a nightmare if you are doing it properly.”

Kirsty Leanne, an influencer known as The Plus Sized Traveller, explained:

“It was at least three years before I made any money,” adding even successful influencers have to deal with “hundreds and hundreds” of rejections.

Martinique Lewis, who creates content under the name Marty SanDiego, said:

“Your itineraries are packed out – you are tired out,” while Kelsey Heinrichs, influencer at Kelsey in London, said: “It just never stops. It’s not just taking selfies. It takes real grit to do the job. You go to bed still posting.”

Despite this, Martinique Lewis believes:

“Because of COVID, next year you will see the rise of the influencer.”

But influencers are being warned big-budget campaigns are likely to be a thing of the past as the post-COVID marketing landscape changes.

Tourism bodies will look more closely than ever on their return on investment, and will look to shake up the way they work with digital content creators.

One difference, according to Amy Skelding, Senior Partner at PR and marketing company Brighter Group, is likely to be more destinations looking to collaborate on longer campaigns with one partner.

She said: “I don’t want a one-night stand. I want a proper marriage here.

“Brands will start to think more deeply who they want to be in bed with as a result of coronavirus.

“Come to me and give me a year-long campaign. Everyone’s having their budgets cut. A lot of people have revised their fees and it will have to continue. The budgets are not spiking any time soon.”

With entry requirements and rules constantly changing as a result of coronavirus, the emphasis is on making sure information that gets out to followers is up to date, said Fiona Anderson, Director at GEC PR.

She said: “It’s really important that PRs and tourist boards are proactive about making sure information is current and shared with journalists and content providers.”

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World Travel Market
Telephone: +44 (0) 208 271 2171
Website: https://www.wtm.com/

A bold start to WTM Virtual

"Co-ordination is crucial, especially for international travel. We must learn from the past to have a similar travel experience in the future" - Mrs Gloria Guevara, CEO, WTTC

Just an hour into the opening day of WTM Virtual, it was clear that today’s theme has been recovery.

This year has been tough on everyone – those within the travel industry and those in other sectors. But now is the time to take stock of where we’ve come from, and where we’re currently at if we’re to carve a path for the future.

In a programme brimming with inspiring content, here are the ones that have created ripples across social media:

• Your 2021 Vision
• UNWTO, WTTC & WTM Ministers Summit - Safer, Greener, Smarter Travel & Tourism
• Tourism: The Path to Peace in the Middle EastIf you weren’t able to tune into these ground-breaking sessions earlier today, fear not – all WTM & Travel Forward content will be available to watch back until 25th November.

We hope that you had a productive opening day but it’s not over yet! We still have two more days of insightful sessions and opportunities to build new relationships and rekindle older ones.

Take a look below for a taste of what’s in store tomorrow. 

One-to-one interview with Ryanair Group CEO, Michael O’Leary
Along with other airlines, Ryanair has been hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic and Michael O’Leary has been vocal in his criticism of the way that Governments have handled its impact on the sector. Join what we’re sure will be a lively session with Michael & WTM Airline expert John Strickland.
Read more

Build Back Better
In this panel we'll look at the different ways in which five destinations are seeking to change the way tourism works to take the opportunity provided by Covid-19 to build back better for communities and their environment. Moderated by WTM Responsible Tourism Advisor, Harold Goodwin.
Read more

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World Travel Market
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Beyond the COVID crisis: the future of Sustainable Tourism Join Four Recent World Tourism Award Honorees

The organisers and sponsors of the annual World Tourism Awards will present a Virtual Live Discussion, Beyond the COVID crisis: the future of Sustainable Tourism as part of WTM Virtual’s event program on Tuesday, November 10, 16:00-17:00 hrs GMT (11 AM -12 noon EST).

Peter Greenberg, CBS News Travel Editor, multi-Emmy Award-winning investigative reporter and world-renowned travel expert, will be the host and moderator of the session.

The panel of World Tourism Award past honourees will include Brett Tollman, Chief Executive, The Travel Corporation, Matthew D. Upchurch, CTC, Chairman & CEO, Virtuoso, James Thornton, CEO, Intrepid Travel and Fiona Jeffery, OBE, Founder and Chairman, Just a Drop. The World Tourism Awards’ 2020 WTM Virtual event is sponsored by The New York Times, The Travel Corporation, United Airlines, and host sponsor Reed Travel Exhibitions.

This live discussion will focus on over-tourism, the environment, water quality, carbon footprint, all the smart travel buzzwords and issues that started this year, before being almost eclipsed by COVID-19.

But as the world emerges from the global health crisis, the leaders in travel and tourism not only face the hard work of rebuilding their companies, and their brands but the additional economic and operational challenge of staying true to their core values of sustainable travel.

Join the WTM Virtual event for an important conversation with past World Tourism Award Honourees as they discuss the essential roadmap to responsible tourism, with an opportunity for Q&A with the speakers.

About the World Tourism Awards

The World Tourism Awards, celebrating its 23rd Anniversary, are normally (with the exception of 2020) presented annually at WTM London and co-sponsored by the New York Times, The Travel Corporation, United Airlines, and Reed Travel Exhibitions. It was inaugurated to “recognize individuals, companies, organizations, destinations and attractions for outstanding initiatives related to the travel and tourism industry, and in fostering sustainable tourism and developing programs that give back to local communities.” Peter Greenberg, CBS News Travel Editor, multi-Emmy award-winning investigative reporter, and world-renowned travel expert, is the host of the Awards presentation.

The Annual World Tourism Awards, as well as this year’s 2020 WTM Virtual event, are organized by The Bradford Group.

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World Travel Market
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Millennials Prioritise Wellness and Nature for Their Next Trip

Millennials interested in nature breaks will drive the first stage of wellness tourism’s recovery, according to data released at London Travel Week Virtual.

Research from Wellness Tourism Association, carried out from March to July this year, showed that one in three (36%) Millennials are planning a wellness vacation, compared with around one-in-five Gen Z-ers and Boomers.

The study identified themes other than “nature” which outline the motivations of the 4,000 travellers in the sample during the current climate.

There is a desire to get away, a positive sign for the industry in general. Travellers want to be pro-active about their own health and to use a trip to re-evaluate and reassess their priorities in life. YOLO – “you only live once” – has become this year’s FOMO – “fear of missing out” – potentially helping to convert pent-up into actual bookings.

Travellers also see a trip as helping their mental health, while also giving them the chance to create “social connections” – being with other people after months of lockdown, working from home and a limited social life.

Panellists at the session said the marketing and messaging of wellness breaks needed to reflect these motivations, while also suggesting that many travel suppliers can find a “wellness” angle in their own product and promote accordingly.

Laura Davidson, president and owner of LDP, suggested that a new market for “wellness staycations” could be created by a localised approach to marketing, which taps into these themes.

Carol Stratford, partner, Hutchinson Consulting drew on a few themes together by telling attendees that Millennials respond positively to strong imagery, and in the current climate pictures used should reflect how the hotel is operating and highlight outside spaces on site and in the vicinity, socially distanced groups, short videos to highlight new health and safety protocols.

WTM senior director Simon Press said:

“Our invited experts shared a wealth of useful insights with attendees and many of their suggestions were also relevant to a wider travel audience.

“The data suggests wellness brands are front of the queue when demand returns, but they need to be aware that their competitive set will be different. Many destinations, hotels and resorts will start to talk up their own wellness credentials, bringing wellness into the travel mainstream.”

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World Travel Market
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Investment Conference: Ministers and Industry Bosses Unite to Plan Travel’s Recovery

Tourism ministers and industry executives from around the world will take part in a major two-day investment conference to promote the recovery of travel.

The International Tourism & Investment Conference (ITIC) is taking place alongside WTM Virtual on November 9 and 10, with the mission statement of ‘Invest, Finance & Rebuild The Travel & Tourism Industry’.

Simon Press, WTM Senior Exhibition Director, said: “ITIC is a crucial and prestigious element of WTM Virtual, as we bring together powerful politicians, industry leaders, health experts, top academics and important investors to guide our sector’s revival.

“Investment in tourism will create new jobs and economic growth and the ITIC event will facilitate vital financial and business partnerships that will pave the way for innovation and recovery.”

The event starts at 16:15 on Monday 9 November with the ITIC – Tourism Investment Ministerial Panel, moderated by BBC presenter Rajan Datar.

The hour-long session, called Rethinking the Global Travel & Tourism Industry, will discuss ways to nurture innovation and investment to rebuild destinations.

Speakers include the tourism ministers of Jamaica, Kenya and Jordan – Edmund Bartlett,

Najib Balala and Nayef Al-Fayez – along with Elena Kountoura MEP, a member of the European Parliament’s Tourism Task Force.

The main investment summit takes place during Tuesday 10th November, alongside a virtual exhibition which can be visited from 10:00-19:45.

Ibrahim Ayoub, Group CEO & MD of ITIC and organiser of this virtual summit added: “The primary goal of this conference is to bring together tourism ministers, health expert, tourism leaders and operators and investors in an open dialogue, under one roof to discuss and consider financial solutions and preparedness to reopen the tourism industry for a better future.”

Moderator Rajan Datar will launch the summit at 10:00, with Dr Taleb Rifai, Chairman of ITIC and former Secretary-General at UNWTO; Simon Press, WTM Senior Exhibition Director; and Ibrahim Ayoub, Group Chief Executive and Managing Director of ITIC & Invest Tourism Ltd.

Dr Taleb Rifai, Chairman ITIC and former Secretary-General UNWTO said: “Opportunity comes from all crisis and the ITIC Summit will be an opportunity to consider what the new world looks like. Investment is very important and COVID made it essential for destinations and private companies. We cannot underestimate the impact of investment and sign of confidence.”

The morning sessions will be:

• 10:00 – Welcome

Rajan Datar, Presenter and Broadcaster, BBC

Dr. Taleb Rifai Chairman of ITIC & Former Secretary-General UNWTO,

Simon Press Senior Exhibition Director, WTM,

Ibrahim Ayoub Group CEO & MD ITIC & Invest Tourism Ltd

• 10:05-10:20 – Current Economic Outlook, predictions and recovery plan for 2021.

Professor Ian Goldin, Professor of Gobalisation and Development, Oxford University

• 10:20-10:35 – Shaping the future of aviation and its projection by 2025, with Sir Tim Clark, President, Emirates.
• 10:35 – 10:45 – Keynote Speech with Mahmoud Abdulhadi, Deputy of Investments – Ministry of Tourism, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
• 10:45-11:15 – The future of tourism in the green economy, with Jordan’s Tourism Minister, Nayef Al-Fayez, and Gloria Guevara, Chief Executive of the World Travel & Tourism Council.
• 11:15-12:00 – Health: dealing with COVID-19 and how we restore travellers’ trust and confidence to rebuild business. The New Normal: Learning to live, travel, work and play despite COVID-19.

Moderated by Rajan Datar, the speakers will be Simon Vincent, President EMEA, Hilton; Simon Vincent, President Hilton, EMEA, Filipe Silva, Board Member, Turismo de Portugal I.P., Professor Heymann David, Professor of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, LSHTM and Head of the Centre on Global Health Security at Chatham House, Ambassador Dho Young-Shim, South Korea and Tom Jones, Senior Partner, Finn Partners

• 12:00-12:15 –  Understanding the financial mechanisms that allow you to survive and rebuild.

Rajan Datar – BBC with Nicolas Mayer, Global Tourism Leader, PWC

• 12:15 – 12:30 – One-to-One interview with Majed AlGhanim, Managing Director, Tourism. Quality of Life – Ministry of Investment, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by Rajan Datar, BBC
• 12:30-13:15 – Analysing the challenges and investment opportunities in the aviation sector.

Moderated by Vijay Poonoosamy, Director International and Public Affairs of QI & former VP, Etihad Airlines.

The speakers will be Tewolde Gebremariam, Chief Executive of Ethiopian Airlines, and Said Samih Darwazah, Chairman and Chief Executive of Royal Jordanian Airlines.

• 13:15 – 13:30 – Video Presentations and Coffee Break

The afternoon sessions will be:

• 13:30- 14:15 – Special focus on the Middle East market: Investment opportunities in sustainable travel and tourism.

Moderated by Gerald Lawless, Director ITIC and WTTC Ambassador.

The speakers will be  Hon. Nayef Al-Fayez, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Jordan, H.E Avedis Guidanian, Former Minister of Tourism, Lebanon, Haitham Mattar, CEO, Beyond Tourism, H.E Marwan Jassim Al Sarkal. Executive Chairman of Sharjah Investment and Development Authority Shurooq and Hammad Al Balawi, General Manager of Investments – Ministry of Tourism, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

• 14:15-14:45 – Investing in Africa: Tourism an important pillar for African development.

Moderated by Mark Beer, Chairman of Metis Institute, the speaker will be Najib Balala, Minister of Tourism, Kenya AND Nick Barigye, Chief Executive Officer, Rwanda Finance Limited.

• 14:45-15:15 – Looking at the economic impact of current investment trends in

airports. Hosted by Peter Greenberg, CBS News.

• 15:15-15:45 – How investment in travel and tourism sector can drive growth and cooperation within the Commonwealth countries.

Speakers will be Hon. Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane, Minister of Tourism, South Africa; Memunatu B. Pratt, Minister of Tourism, Sierra Leone; Mobin Rafiq, Founder and President of the Commonwealth Entrepreneur Club; and Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane, Minister of Tourism, South Africa.

• 15:45: – 16:00 – How to attract China outbound investment and tourism during and post covid19. Presentation by Marcus Lee, Chairman of Association of SME Business owners in China
• 16:00 -16:15 – Coffee Break & Video Presentations
• 16:15- 17:00 – Challenges and opportunities for mergers and acquisitions in the Post-COVID stage.

Moderator: Ibrahim Osta, Chief of Party, USAID, Bosnia & Herzegovina

Speakers: Video presentation by Duma Wang, CEO, Hiseas International Travel Group, China; Nicolas Mayer, Global Tourism Leader, PWC; Michel Taride, Strategic Adviser & former President Hertz International

Kee Chong Lee Kwong Wing, Independent Director, AFREXIM Bank

• 17:00-17:45 – Investment opportunities: presentation of destinations and tourism projects in quest of investment
• 17:45-18:30 – Tourism resilience: how can you prepare for any future global catastrophe.

Moderated by Peter Greenberg, CBS News.

The speakers will be Edmund Bartlett, Minister of Tourism, Jamaica; Nikolina Angelkova, former Minister of Tourism of Bulgaria; Dr Taleb Rifai; Christopher Rodrigues, WTTC Ambassador and Chairman of Port of London Authority and Raki Phillips, CEO, Ras  Al Khaimah Tourism Authority (RAKDA)

• 18:30-19:00 – Tourism job retention and job growth strategy.

Moderated by Nigel Fell, C-Suite leader and not-for-profit Board Advisor.

The speakers will be Konrad Mizzi, former Minister of Tourism, Malta; Richard Hatter, General Manager, FIH Hotel; Judy Kepher-Gona, founder of Sustainable Travel & Tourism Agenda; Catheryn Khoo-Latimore, Associate Professor, Griffith University, Australia; and Brian Mullis, Board member of Transformational Travel Council.

• 19:00- 19:30 – Recovery plan for a stronger digital travel and tourism industry post COVID-19 and beyond.

Moderated by Professor Dimitrios Buhalis, Director eTourism Lab & Deputy Director, International Centre for Tourism and Hospitality Research, Bournemouth University Business School.

Speakers will be Jayant Kolla, Founder of Convergence Catalyst and Sensate Technologies, and Cuthbert Ncube, Chairman of African Tourism Board.

• 19:30-19:45 – Closing comments from Rajan Datar, Dr Taleb Rifai, Simon Press and Ibrahim Ayoub.

Click here to register to ITIC Investment Summit:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/itic-tourism-investment-virtual-summit-9-11-november-2020-tickets-115318272056

Click here to register to WTM Virtual:

https://london.wtm.com/en/visit/Visitor-registration/

About ITIC

ITIC is a leading conference producer whose previous events include the International Tourism Investment Conference 2018 and 2019 in London and Investing in Tourism Sustainability Conference 2019 in Bulgaria. ITIC is chaired by Dr Taleb Rifai, former Secretary-General of the United Nations World Tourism Organization.  More details: www.itic.uk

About World Travel Market

World Travel Market (WTM) Portfolio comprises six leading travel events, an online portal and a virtual platform across four continents, generating more than $7.5 billion of industry deals. The events are:

WTM Virtual, is the new WTM Portfolio virtual platform, created to offer global delegates the chance to arrange one-to-one virtual meetings, to do business, attend conference sessions and roundtables, take part in speed networking and more. WTM Virtual will embrace the global leading travel shows in one platform.

Taking place: Monday 9 to Wednesday 11 November 2020 – Virtual http://london.wtm.com/

WTM London, the leading global event for the travel industry, is the must-attend three-day exhibition for the worldwide travel and tourism industry. Around 50,000 senior travel industry professionals, government ministers and international media visit ExCeL London every November, generating over £3.71 billion in travel industry contracts. This year the show will be fully-virtual.

Next event: Monday 9 to Wednesday 11 November 2020 – Virtual http://london.wtm.com/

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World Travel Market
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Travel Industry Prepares To Do Business at WTM Virtua

Travel and tourism professionals from around the world will reconnect with vital business partners next week at WTM Virtual (9-11 November).

Final preparations are being made for the online event which includes the Travel Forward Virtual and International Tourism & Investment Conference (ITIC).

The conference sessions will also host top politicians, leading academics, health experts and the world’s media, as the travel industry plans for recovery in 2021.

Highlights of next week’s agenda include

• Global tourism forecasts from Euromonitor International
• ITIC – International Tourism & Investment Conference
• Responsible Tourism programme
• Aviation sessions with bosses of major low-cost carriers Ryanair and JetBlue
• UNWTO, WTTC & WTM Ministers’ Summit
• First meeting of tourism ministers from Israel, UAE and Bahrain since historic Abraham Accords signing

WTM London, Senior Director, Simon Press said: “The travel and tourism industry is facing its worst crisis in living memory, so WTM Virtual will provide a crucial platform for planning the bounce-back, reconnecting with business partners, forging new connections, and learning about the best way forward.”

The Euromonitor International report, to be launched on the first day of WTM Virtual, will explain why global tourism will take between three and five years to recover from Covid-19.

Called Accelerating Travel Innovations after Coronavirus, the study will also reveal how the travel industry is innovating in order to survive the devastating impact of the pandemic.

The International Tourism & Investment Conference (ITIC) will have the mission statement of ‘Invest, Finance & Rebuild the Travel & Tourism Industry’.

It will feature a ministerial panel on 9 November and a summit with industry bosses, politicians and experts on 10 November.

The Responsible Tourism Programme takes place across two days, with eight conference sessions featuring authoritative speakers from the private and public sectors.

On 10 November, the sessions will be: Resilience & COVID 19; Build Back Better; Tourism and Biodiversity; and Decarbonising Aviation.

The sessions on 11 November will be: Responsible Tourism in India; Racism in Tourism; Certification and Consumer Choice; and Can we make tourism better?

The turbulence in aviation will be discussed on all three days of WTM Virtual, starting with a debate about trends and forecasts on 9 November.

Called ‘The Long-run Evolution of Aviation Activity following the coronavirus pandemic’, it will feature expertise from Virgin Atlantic, Boeing, IATA and Tourism Economics.

WTM’s aviation expert, John Strickland, will interview Michael O’Leary, the chief executive of Ryanair on 10 November, and JetBlue CEO Robin Hayes on 11 November.

The annual UNWTO, WTTC & WTM Ministers’ Summit on 9 November is the largest annual gathering of tourism ministers and private sector leaders.

Under the rallying cry of ‘To Create Safer, Greener, Smarter Travel & Tourism’, it will host tourism ministers and private sector bosses debating the recovery of travel and innovations to deal with Covid-19 and sustainability.

The summit will also hear from Oliver Dowden MP, the British Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.

It will be followed by ‘Tourism: The Path to Peace in the Middle East’, with the tourism ministers of Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.

In September, these countries signed the “Abraham Accords”, an historic deal that enables business opportunities and tourism prospects.

The ministers will be discussing the new travel and tourism opportunities and the sector’s role in supporting peace in the region.

It will be the first time the tourism ministers have met since signing the agreements.

Simon Press concluded: “Since 1980, WTM has provided an essential forum for the industry to do business, network and learn about trends in the market.

“2020 is the year where global connections need to be maintained, build those networks and understand what’s happening in these extraordinary and challenging times.

“Our delegates will be able to keep ahead of the game and lay strong foundations for recovery and innovation in 2021.”

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World Travel Market
Telephone: +44 (0) 208 271 2171
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