- H.E. Ahmed Al-Khateeb co-launched the WTTC–Ministry Future of Work report, emphasising the travel and tourism sector as one of the world’s largest employers.
- Saudi Arabia spotlighted as a case study: 649,000 training opportunities created since 2020; women now represent 46% of the workforce.
- Global leaders invited to the UN Tourism General Assembly and the inaugural TOURISE Summit in Riyadh, November 2025.
The Saudi Ministry of Tourism has concluded a high-profile programme at the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) 25th Global Summit in Rome. The summit brought together global leaders, policymakers and industry experts to shape the future of international tourism, with Saudi Arabia taking centre stage as a driving force for innovation, collaboration and workforce transformation.
Across the three-day event, His Excellency Ahmed Al-Khateeb, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Tourism, played a key role in advancing the discussion on workforce development and industry evolution. He co-launched the much-anticipated “Future of Work” report and joined the panel discussion titled “Bridging Continents: Collaborative Tourism Policies for a Connected Future”. In addition, H.E. Al-Khateeb held productive exchanges with leaders from both the public and private sectors during side sessions, including the Private Sector Chairs and CEO Roundtable.
The Future of Work report—produced by WTTC in partnership with Hong Kong Polytechnic University and supported by the Saudi Ministry of Tourism, Coraggio Group and Miles Partnership—forecasts a global shortfall of over 43 million workers across 20 major economies by 2035. It identifies growing demand for digital, AI and sustainability skills, alongside increased pressure in hospitality roles, where an 18% gap (8.6 million workers) is projected. The report also reaffirms that the travel and tourism sector is among the world’s largest employers and continues to expand rapidly.
Saudi Arabia features prominently in the report as a success story in workforce transformation. Since 2020, the Kingdom has created more than 649,000 training opportunities for current and aspiring tourism professionals. According to the latest GASTAT figures, concerted efforts to empower Saudi women have led to their representation in the tourism workforce reaching around 46%. This progress has been supported by the introduction of National Occupational Skills Standards (NOSS) and a dedicated Tourism and Hospitality course for 12th-grade students, aimed at inspiring early interest in the sector’s growing significance.
“The Future of Work report not only highlights the scale of the challenges ahead but also points to solutions. AI and digital innovation are reshaping jobs into smarter, more rewarding roles,” said H.E. Ahmed Al-Khateeb, Minister of Tourism of Saudi Arabia. “Saudi Arabia is proud to lead by example—with hundreds of thousands of training opportunities and a workforce that is nearly 50% women. By 2035, one in three new jobs will come from the travel and tourism sector globally, making this sector a unique engine of global economic growth.”
These achievements reflect Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 ambitions to position the Kingdom as a global tourism leader through investment in digital innovation, sustainable development and enhanced connectivity. For the second year running, the Kingdom recorded more than 100 million domestic and inbound tourist visits in 2024.
Looking ahead, H.E. Al-Khateeb extended an invitation to ministers, CEOs and global tourism partners to gather in Riyadh for two landmark events: the 26th UN Tourism General Assembly (7–11 November 2025) and the inaugural TOURISE Summit (11–13 November 2025). Together, these gatherings will drive progress on workforce development, investment and smart destination policies.
The WTTC 25th Global Summit, held from 28–30 September under the theme “The Great Beauty (of Travel)”, welcomed leaders from over 70 countries, underscoring the power of tourism to foster global cooperation and economic advancement.
