WEF, Saudi Arabia Announce First Cohort of Beyond Tourism Impact Stars

   Geneva, September 27, 2026, SPA -- The World Economic Forum (WEF), in partnership with Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Tourism, unveiled the inaugural Beyond Tourism Impact Stars at the first Beyond Tourism Day in Geneva.
   On behalf of Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khateeb, Deputy Minister of Tourism Destinations Enablement Mahmoud Abdulhadi and Deputy Minister of International Affairs Hawazen Nassief represented the ministry as a global partner of WEF’s Beyond Tourism initiative and opened the inaugural Impact Stars announcement ceremony.
   In her remarks, Nassief said: “Tourism can transform nations, diversify economies, improve livelihoods, sustain culture and heritage, and deepen understanding and human connection. The belief in the transformative power of tourism is at the heart of the Beyond Tourism partnership between the World Economic Forum and the Ministry of Tourism of Saudi Arabia. Together, we are committed to supporting practical models that drive progress in our sector."
   The inaugural cohort spotlights six initiatives turning critical sector challenges into measurable, real-world solutions, including Sommet Education’s initiative to accelerate local hospitality workforce development through “Empowering Saudi Hospitality Talent."
   Other winners include Accor for its global water conservation program; Discova (Singapore) for supporting community-led livelihoods across Asia; and GHE Impact Ventures (India) for combining clean energy with regenerative mountain tourism in “Himalayan Living Commons." Completing the cohort are Al Ismaelia (Egypt) for historic urban restoration through “Reviving Downtown Cairo"; and Iberostar Group (Spain) for its data-driven hotel sustainability and marine stewardship in “Wave of Change."
   Beyond Tourism Impact Stars is designed to take successful solutions further. The inaugural cohort will embark on a year-long journey of international engagement to amplify their proven models, facilitate knowledge exchange, and advance scalable adoption across emerging destinations.
   Through the Ministry of Tourism’s partnership with WEF on the Beyond Tourism initiative, Saudi Arabia continues its role as a global convener, bringing together governments, businesses, investors, and innovators around a shared commitment, ensuring tourism growth creates enduring value for destinations and the communities that sustain them.
   -- SPA