Saudi Arabia Participates in the 126th Session of UN Tourism Executive Council

   Toledo, June 12, 2026, SPA -- The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, represented by Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khateeb, participated in the 126th session of the UN Tourism Executive Council, held in Toledo, Spain, from June 10 to 11, 2026.
   Saudi Arabia’s participation reflects its ongoing commitment to advancing international cooperation under UN Tourism and its efforts to strengthen collective action to promote the sector's resilience amid geopolitical volatility affecting travel and tourism.
   In his opening remarks, the minister said: “Although the tourism sector is among the most affected by these global developments, it continues to demonstrate, time and again, its capacity to adapt and recover swiftly. This resilience, supported by the sector’s inherent flexibility, has led governments to view our industry as a key enabler of their economies".
   He reaffirmed the Kingdom's commitment to its partnerships with UN Tourism and its member states, and its support for international cooperation to advance global tourism and achieve shared goals.
   In his remarks, the minister also underlined the need to take joint steps to ensure the sector’s resilience in the future. He pointed to the outcomes of the 26th UN Tourism General Assembly, hosted by Riyadh last year, most notably the Riyadh Declaration on the Future of Tourism, which outlined a roadmap for driving growth and shaping the future of the global tourism sector.
   On the sidelines of the session, Al-Khateeb and Greek Minister of Tourism Olga Kefalogianni led the Tourism Committee Meeting under the Saudi-Hellenic Strategic Partnership Council, exploring cooperation in human capital development, exchange of expertise, and destination promotion.
   Saudi Arabia’s delegation also met with a delegation from the French Republic to sign a joint action program between the Saudi Ministry of Tourism and France’s Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises, Trade, Crafts, Tourism and Purchasing Power, covering human capital
   development, tourism investment, sustainable tourism, innovation, data and statistics, international events, and destination promotion.
   Al-Khateeb also met with tourism ministers from Indonesia, Spain, and Egypt to discuss international collaboration and knowledge exchange.
   The Kingdom's participation reflects its long-standing cooperation with UN Tourism, marked by the selection of Riyadh as the organization's regional headquarters for the Middle East and the hosting of the 26th UN Tourism General Assembly, where the Riyadh Declaration was unanimously adopted.
   -- SPA