Saudi Arabia Hosts 26th UN Tourism General Assembly in November Under “AI-Powered Tourism” Theme
Saudi Arabia will host the 26th UN Tourism General Assembly from November 7 to 11, 2025. The gathering will carry the theme AI-Powered Tourism: Redefining the Future. It marks the 50th anniversary of the United Nations specialized agency for tourism.
More than 160 member states, international organisations, and global industry leaders will come together. They will engage in high-level dialogue to build a more sustainable and inclusive future for travel. The Ministry of Tourism will represent Saudi Arabia as host nation and convenor.
Strengthening Global Cooperation & Vision
Minister of Tourism, H.E. Ahmed Al Khateeb, welcomes participants to Riyadh. He emphasizes that this session will redefine collective action in tourism and beyond. He highlights Saudi Arabia’s role as the first GCC country to host a UN agency general assembly. He sees it as proof of global confidence in Saudi leadership.
The Kingdom aims to unite viewpoints, advance Sustainable Development Goals, and leverage tourism for economic diversification. Saudi Arabia views tourism as a key sector in its Vision 2030 strategy. It expects travel to contribute across communities, industries, and growth plans.
Key Sessions, Committees & New Platform
The assembly will hold four plenaries and several specialized-committee meetings. It will also feature a thematic session focused on tourism in an AI-powered age. Attendees will elect the next UN Tourism Secretary-General and he Executive Council will meet in its 124th and 125th sessions.
Immediately after the Assembly, Saudi Arabia will launch the TOURISE Summit from November 11-13. It will bring together public and private sector leaders in tourism, technology, investment, sustainability and culture.
This gathering signals more than a meeting, it represents strategic direction. Saudi Arabia aims to become a global hub for cross-sector dialogue and sustainable tourism action. It wants to show that travel can drive innovation, equity, and climate-friendly growth.
Leaders will set agenda points that may influence policy, investment, and sector practices globally. Coming November, they will aim to ensure that tourism serves people, the planet, and prosperity.
