Riyadh has once again placed itself at the heart of the global tourism conversation. As host of the 26th UN Tourism General Assembly, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia welcomed ministers, CEOs, and industry leaders from around the world for a defining moment in travel policy: the adoption of the Riyadh Declaration on the Future of Tourism.
A Defining Week for Global Tourism
Under the theme “The Impact of Artificial Intelligence and Innovation in Shaping Global Tourism,” the Assembly brought together delegates from every region to debate the opportunities and challenges presented by new technologies. The resulting Riyadh Declaration marks a pivotal milestone, one that places sustainability, innovation, and inclusivity at the core of tourism’s global recovery and transformation.
For the first time in the history of the UN Tourism General Assembly, a ministerial declaration focused specifically on artificial intelligence was formally adopted, positioning AI as a force that can both empower destinations and raise critical questions around ethics, equity, and access.
The Riyadh Declaration: A Global Call to Action
The Declaration sets out an ambitious vision for the sector’s next decade. Member States pledged to:
• Advance sustainability by balancing environmental protection, economic growth, and social well-being.
• Accelerate digital transformation, ensuring that the benefits of innovation reach developing and developed destinations alike.
• Strengthen resilience through smarter risk assessment, adaptive infrastructure, and rapid recovery mechanisms.
• Uphold robust data governance, protecting privacy and cybersecurity while enabling responsible innovation.
• Invest in people by tackling skills gaps and supporting tourism education worldwide.
• Promote inclusion and cultural respect, ensuring local communities remain central to tourism’s evolution.
• Encourage fair visitor distribution, using innovation to ease pressure on overcrowded sites and empower emerging destinations.
The Declaration also tasks UN Tourism’s Secretariat with concrete deliverables: the development of a Global Maturity Framework for AI in Tourism, the activation of an AI Impact on Tourism Report and Recommendation Guide, and the creation of a Strategic Roadmap on the Future of Tourism to be presented to the Executive Council within 12 months.
Saudi Arabia’s Global Leadership
Hosting the General Assembly underlines Saudi Arabia’s expanding leadership in international tourism policy. Riyadh has become a hub for major global events, from the World Travel & Tourism Council Global Summit to this week’s UN Tourism Assembly, and will immediately transition into Tourise, the Kingdom’s new global tourism innovation forum.
Saudi Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al Khateeb described the moment as “a turning point for global tourism governance, where technology, talent, and sustainability converge to create a new era of opportunity.” He added, “Through the Riyadh Declaration, we are sending a clear message that the future of tourism will be built on intelligence and inclusion. Our goal is to ensure that every nation, regardless of size or resources, can harness innovation to unlock growth, protect culture, and empower communities.”
What It Means for the Industry
The Riyadh Declaration is more than a statement of intent. It is a framework for action. For governments, it provides a shared benchmark for AI readiness and digital adoption. For businesses, it signals a wave of policy momentum behind data-driven experiences, innovation ecosystems, and skills development. For investors, it opens pathways for technology and infrastructure partnerships in fast-growing markets.
Yet, the Declaration also sounds a note of caution. Without coordination, AI could deepen divides between destinations. Its call for cooperation, capacity building, and voluntary funding contributions is designed to ensure no country is left behind.
The Road Ahead
UN Tourism will report progress on implementation at its next Executive Council session in 2026. Attention will now turn to how member states and private partners translate these commitments into measurable outcomes.
As global tourism enters a decade defined by technology, sustainability, and human connection, the Riyadh Declaration serves as a guiding compass, one born from collaboration, vision, and optimism.
The future of tourism, it seems, will not simply be about where we travel, but how we travel, powered by intelligence, guided by ethics, and grounded in shared prosperity.
By Justin Cooke, Editor in Chief