RIYADH, Nov 9 (KUNA) -- Kuwaiti Minister of Information and Culture and Minister of State for Youth Affairs Abdulrahman Al-Mutairi led Kuwait's delegation attending the 26th session of the United Nations Tourism General Assembly, held in the Saudi capital, Riyadh.
The opening ceremony, attended by representatives from more than 150 countries, alongside international organizations and global tourism experts, began with a speech by Saudi Minister of Tourism Ahmad Al-Khateeb.
Al-Khateeb conveyed the greetings of King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, welcoming participants to Riyadh for what he described as a major global event that reflects the Kingdom's growing leadership in the international tourism sector.
He highlighted that this session marks the first meeting of its kind to be held in the Gulf region, noting that Saudi Arabia has prepared a program that reflects shared global interests and supports the world economy.
The program includes General Assembly sessions and special events commemorating the 50th anniversary of the organization's founding.
Al-Khateeb emphasized the significance of the participation of over 150 countries, underscoring the elevated status tourism has achieved and its role in advancing national and global development goals, adding that the tourism sector has demonstrated its transformative impact in recent years.
The minister pointed out that tourism is a key pillar of the global economy, contributing USD 11 trillion and providing more than 357 million jobs worldwide.
He reaffirmed that innovation and development form a global economic force and that Saudi Arabia continues to integrate artificial intelligence and innovation into the tourism sector, with a strong focus on empowering women as key partners in the national economy and enhancing sustainability through public-private collaboration. (end) kns.dss