The inaugural TOURISE Summit has opened today, November 11. TOURISE ushers in a new era for global tourism, uniting ministers, delegates, and visionaries from around the world as the premier platform dedicated to shaping the future of the industry.
Taking place from November 11-13, 2025, in Riyadh immediately following the 50th United Nations Tourism General Assembly, TOURISE is reimagining the way that sectors interact to find opportunities where competitors become partners where investments are optimized and where fragmented silos converge.
The event is under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and was opened by Ahmed Al Khateeb, Minister of Tourism of Saudi Arabia and Chairman of TOURISE.
The event aims to turn bold ideas into real-world solutions and catalyse transformative initiatives that will shape the next 50 years of the global tourism sector.
During his
opening speech, Al Khateeb noted that there has never been a more urgent or opportune moment
for convergence of sectors to shape global tourism, with the tourism sector having
rebounded to historic highs, with international arrivals and investment
surpassing pre-pandemic levels.
However, he cautioned that at the same time, the sector faces unprecedented challenges and opportunities: rapid technological disruption, a generational shift toward sustainable and experience-driven travel, and an imperative to build resilience in the face of economic and environmental uncertainty and growing fragmentation around the globe.
He recognised that TOURISE has arrived at this inflection point, when the world is hungry for new models, new partnerships, and new solutions.
“TOURISE is more than an event, it is a platform for action where we will
solve for the challenges all together that have long limited tourism’s full
potential among them are challenges in skills, investment, infrastructure,
sustainability, and digital transformation. It’s a space where we will work
hand in hand to deliver the best outcomes for everyone: returns for investors;
more accessible destinations and affordable experiences for travelers; jobs and
prosperity for communities as the demand for travel increases. We are not here just to discuss ideas.
We are here to act. That is why TOURISE exists.”
Over the course of its three days, TOURISE is set to host a number of key panels and talks featuring global leaders from across sectors. Notable global speakers include:
·
Ariane Gorin, CEO, Expedia
·
Ambassador Patricia Espinosa, Founder,
onepoint5
·
Gloria Guevara, Interim CEO, World
Travel & Tourism Council
·
Shaikha Nasser Al Nowais, Incoming
Secretary General of UN Tourism
·
Luis Maroto, CEO, Amadeus
·
Francis Suarez, Mayor, Miami
·
Paul Griffiths, CEO, Dubai Airports
·
Lucia Penrod, Co-Founder & Owner,
Nikki Beach
·
Sébastien Bazin, CEO, Accor
·
Eduardo
Santander, CEO, European Travel Commission (ETC)
·
Harvey Goldsmith CBE,
Founder, Nvisible Productions
·
Thomas Woldbye, CEO, Heathrow
Airport
· Steve Hafner, Co-Founder & CEO, Kayak.com
The speaker line up showcases how TOURISE unites leaders from
sectors rarely seen together, creating counterintuitive, boundary-breaking
collaborations.
These convergences are
not just novel; they are the engine for new business models, improved traveler
experiences, sustainable destination development and investment strategies that
could only emerge from such a unique, multi-sector platform.
The Summit will cover the big questions
redefining travel’s future from AI-powered experiences and frictionless borders
to destination design, investment, and the race for tomorrow’s travelers, and
transform them into action through high-powered ministerial dialogues,
boardroom dialogues, main-stage keynotes and innovation showcases.
The winners of the very first TOURISE
Awards will also be announced this evening, recognizing those places that
exemplify destination excellence and cater to the evolving expectations of the
modern traveler.
Powered by the Saudi Ministry of Tourism, TOURISE is more than a three-day summit, it is an always-on, global platform. Crucially, the conversations sparked in Riyadh will continue year-round platform through collaboration and cross-sector partnerships, turning bold ideas into real-world solutions. -TradeArabia News Service