Saudi Arabia to host UNWTO General Assembly in 2025

Saudi Arabia has been chosen as the host country for the 26th General Assembly of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) in 2025. This momentous announcement was made during the 25th session of the UNWTO General Assembly, a global event held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, from October 16 to 20.

The decision to select Saudi Arabia as the host nation marks a significant milestone as it’s the first time the Kingdom will be hosting the General Assembly of a United Nations organization. This decision underscores the growing prominence of Saudi Arabia in the global tourism landscape.

Saudi Minister of Tourism, Ahmed Al-Khateeb, played a pivotal role in the event. As a prominent member of the UNWTO General Assembly, Saudi Arabia’s stature in the organization has been further highlighted by its selection as the host for the 2025 session.

During the session, Al-Khateeb reiterated Saudi Arabia’s commitment to reshaping the global tourism arena. Hosting the 26th UNWTO General Assembly is seen as a major step towards realizing this vision. The upcoming session in Saudi Arabia is anticipated to encompass a wide array of activities aimed at promoting the vital role of tourism in sustainable development and global peace.

This event provides a valuable platform for Saudi Arabia to exhibit its remarkable progress in the tourism and cultural sectors while fostering international collaboration in this critical industry. Al-Khateeb emphasized that hosting this session signifies Saudi Arabia’s dedication to leading the global tourism sector towards a more cooperative and promising future.

This announcement comes in the wake of Saudi Arabia’s significant accomplishments during its chairmanship of UNWTO’s Executive Council in 2023. The Executive Council, under Saudi Arabia’s leadership, outlined a comprehensive roadmap focused on enhancing global cooperation and spearheading innovative initiatives in the tourism sector.