The Tourism Development Fund (TDF), Saudi Arabia’s national enabler of the tourism sector, has concluded the Grow Tourism Accelerator – Second Cohort Demo Day in Riyadh.
Organised by (TDF Grow), the Fund’s
non-financial enablement arm, the event was held under the sponsorship of the
Arab National Bank (ANB) and the National Technology Development Programme
(NTDP), and brought together leading entrepreneurs, investors, and
representatives from both government and the private sector.
Qusai Al-Fakhri, CEO of TDF, expressed his
pride in the program’s success and its impact on empowering entrepreneurs and
startups.
He said: “We are proud of the innovation
demonstrated by the participating entrepreneurs and startups, reflecting the
dynamism of Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector. At TDF, we remain committed to
supporting these emerging talents, empowering communities, and fostering a
sustainable tourism ecosystem that thrives from small towns to major cities, fully
aligned with the objectives of the National Tourism Strategy and Saudi Vision
2030.”
17 startups presented their projects
spanning tourism technology, services, and innovative experiences, while an
accompanying exhibition allowed investors and visitors to explore new tourism
solutions and discuss partnership and growth opportunities.
Through TDF Grow, the Fund continues to
empower entrepreneurs via accelerators, hackathons, bootcamps, and its
dedicated incubation programme, alongside mentorship and advisory programmes.
To date, over 9,000 entrepreneurs have
benefited from these programmes, and more than 100 startups have graduated to
offer tourism experiences for local and international visitors.
Collectively, TDF Grow-supported ventures
have attracted over SAR 30 million ($7.9 million) in investments, emphasising TDF
Grow’s real-world impact on the sector.
In its second edition, the Grow Tourism Accelerator continues to accelerate the readiness of Saudi startups to deliver innovative, market-ready solutions that address local and global tourism needs, further strengthening the sector’s role as a key driver of economic diversification under Saudi Vision 2030. -TradeArabia News Service