Riyadh : The TOURISE Forum concluded its inaugural edition, held in Riyadh under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, from November 11 to 13, under the theme “Towards the Next Big Step.”
The forum brought together a distinguished group of leaders, decision-makers, innovators, and visionaries in the tourism sector from around the world. It also witnessed the launch of inspiring and innovative initiatives aimed at paving the way for the next phase of the tourism sector’s journey, exploring ways to capitalize on opportunities and address the challenges that will shape the sector over the next fifty years. The forum attracted approximately 10,000 participants from more than 100 countries, including 42 ministers, 2,040 CEOs, 434 media representatives, and 137 speakers, with the participation of 19 media partners, 32 sponsors, and 9 knowledge partners.
His Excellency the Minister of Tourism and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the TOURISE Forum, Mr. Ahmed bin Aqeel Al-Khatib, delivered a closing speech in which he expressed his deepest gratitude and appreciation to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and Prime Minister – may God protect him – for his generous patronage of the forum. His Excellency stated, “The TOURISE Forum has demonstrated the importance of cooperation and innovation in shaping a sustainable and inclusive future for the tourism sector. It has brought together leaders, visionaries, and change-makers to address the challenges of our time and seize its opportunities together.” The Minister added, “TOURISE is not merely a passing event, but rather the beginning of a lasting legacy. As we look to the future, the forum will remain a platform that fosters advanced ideas, initiatives, and partnerships that will reshape the future of tourism for generations to come.” The forum also featured a series of dialogue sessions addressing four main themes: confronting challenges, capitalizing on growth opportunities, stimulating major investments, and developing future policies. The forum included more than 80 declarations and memoranda of understanding, and contributed to mobilizing $113 billion in investments aimed at boosting the global tourism sector. In addition, 67 sessions were held across three different platforms, and more than 1,000 meetings took place to foster the exchange of visions and experiences.
Besides the main platforms, the forum offered a range of distinctive zones, such as the Digital Hub, the Innovation Zone, and the Beach Zone, which hosted numerous meetings that contributed to creating high-quality collaboration opportunities and promising strategic partnerships.
The forum also announced the launch of several leading global initiatives that embody its vision for the future of the tourism sector. These included the Agentic Tourism Initiative, launched through a coalition of 10 leading global organizations, aiming to shape a new era driven by human innovation powered by artificial intelligence. Another initiative, the Tourism Destination Initiative, was launched with the participation of 14 founding members. This initiative focuses on building more sustainable and inclusive destinations by developing innovative AI-powered tools and solutions that enhance the safety and efficiency of destination management.
To further facilitate the traveler experience, the TOURISE Forum announced the Visa by Profile initiative, a first-of-its-kind service that allows eligible travelers to obtain their Saudi Arabian tourist visa within minutes using only their passport and credit card (VISA) data, without the need to enter any additional information. The forum also included the launch of the Beyond Tourism initiative, in partnership with the World Economic Forum. This international platform promotes tourism as a driving force for economic growth, community development, and environmental sustainability by building cross-sector alliances that will contribute to a transformative future for the global tourism industry.
The inaugural edition of the forum also saw the awarding of the TOURISE Awards, a global initiative that recognizes tourist destinations that build cultural bridges between peoples and offer visitors exceptional and memorable experiences. Tokyo won awards for Best Overall Destination, Best Entertainment Destination, and Best Culinary Destination; Paris won Best Shopping Destination; New York won Best Arts and Culture Destination; and Ancash, Peru, won Best Adventure Destination.
It is worth noting that the TOURISE platform was announced in May 2025 as an initiative of the Ministry of Tourism. It serves as a global forum bringing together decision-makers and innovators from various sectors to contribute to the development of future policies that enhance the resilience and sustainability of the global tourism sector.
