The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, represented by His Excellency Ahmed Al Khateeb, the Minister of Tourism, participated in The Extraordinary Meeting of the Ministers Responsible for Tourism in the GCC Countries. The meeting underscored a collective commitment among GCC countries to strengthen coordination and joint action in addressing ongoing challenges, bolstering visitor and investor confidence, ensuring sector continuity, and enhancing the readiness and resilience of tourism destinations. The meeting focused on assessing the impact of recent regional developments on the tourism sector and coordinating a unified Gulf response to support sector resilience, continuity and confidence. H.E. the Minister of Tourism reaffirmed the Kingdom’s unwavering commitment to GCC solidarity, highlighting Saudi Arabia’s continued support for GCC member states across several related areas, including logistics and air connectivity, contributing to regional stability and travel flows. On the sidelines of the meeting, H.E. Al Khateeb stated: “The Kingdom remains firmly committed to close cooperation with the GCC countries through continuous coordination and joint action. We will continue to support regional efforts aimed at ensuring stability, resilience and confidence across the sector.” In addition to the GCC member states, UN Tourism participated in the extraordinary meeting, represented by Shaikha Al Nuwais, Secretary-General of UN Tourism, to discuss ways to enhance cooperation and support recovery. Despite challenges, Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector has demonstrated resilience and adaptability, supported by robust domestic tourism. This underscores the sector’s sustainable demand and highlights the Kingdom’s pivotal role in enabling key industries across the region.
Dr Shehara Rizly Fernando manages Middle East content, bringing over three decades of experience across print, broadcast, and digital journalism in Asia and the Middle East region. Beginning as a broadcast journalist, she transitioned into print and digital platforms, covering news, travel, tourism and destinations, hotel development, and aviation. She is also a strong advocate for women in the industry, consistently championing their growth and empowerment throughout her career.
