Saudi Arabia Rolls Out Red Carpet for Travel Industry at Jeddah Tourism Expo
JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia – The magic of the travel industry was on full display this week as over 200 exhibitors from 27 countries gathered in Jeddah for the annual International Travel and Tourism Exhibition. The doors opened Sunday to launch the largest tourism industry event in Saudi Arabia. Under the slogan “Travel Begins Here,” the expo provides a vibrant platform for showcasing Saudi Arabia’s rapidly growing tourism sector. Just two years after opening its doors to leisure tourism, the Kingdom welcomed over 12 million international visitors in the first half of 2022 alone.
Exhibitors arrived in Jeddah ready to tap this booming market. National tourism authorities rubbed shoulders with hotels, airlines, tour operators, and cruise lines. Interactive displays transported visitors to destinations across the region and world, from the Maldives’ sun-soaked beaches to the Himalayas’ soaring peaks. The Saudi Tourism Authority’s CEO, Fahd Hamidaddin, welcomed guests to the Kingdom’s tourism hub. He emphasized Saudi Arabia’s commitment to building a sustainable tourism industry that showcases natural wonders like AlUla and the Red Sea coast.
Global heavyweights like Emirates, Etihad Airways, and Marriott International participated alongside niche eco-tourism startups. Technology companies offered a glimpse into the future of travel, with virtual reality experiences and artificial intelligence concierge bots.
The exhibition underscores how Saudi Arabia is emerging as the Middle East’s new tourism hotspot. With dozens of megaprojects in development, the Kingdom aims to welcome 100 million tourists by 2030. Events like this Jeddah expo accelerate progress by bringing together public and private sector partners.
As the curtains close on this year’s show, the future looks bright for leisure tourism in Saudi Arabia. The Jeddah International Travel and Tourism Exhibition has once again succeeded in promoting the Kingdom’s ambitious vision to the travel industry’s top players. Saudi Arabia’s tourism rise seems destined to continue full speed ahead.
