In a remarkable celebration of World Tourism Day, Diriyah, the historic heart of the Saudi capital, Riyadh, welcomed over 500 distinguished guests, including tourism leaders, experts, and officials from 120 countries. The gala hosted 50 minsters for tourism from around the world who had previously arrived in Riyadh for a series of conferences to discuss matters of UNWTO initiatives as well as sessions hosted by the private sector.

Zurab Pololikashvili, the Secretary-General of the UNWTO, was bestowed with honors at the event for his exceptional leadership and significant contributions throughout the various sessions and activities held to commemorate World Tourism Day.

Diriyah in particular has in recent years emerged as a global tourist destination owing to its designation as “At-Turiaf”, a UNESCO Heritage Site. Since its grand opening in 2022 it has welcomed over a million tourists. Saudi Arabia has set its sights on becoming one of the world’s most-visited countries, with a bold ambition of reaching 100 million annual visits by 2030 through an extensive $800 billion plan designed to position itself as a premier global travel destination.

Remarkably, Saudi Arabia presently holds the distinction of being the most-visited country in the region, with the tourism sector poised to contribute over 10% to the Kingdom’s GDP by the close of the decade.

Jerry Inzerillo, the Group CEO of Diriyah Company, highlighted the suitability of Diriyah as the host location for the gala event, given its role in reconnecting with Saudi Arabia’s rich history as the birthplace of the nation. Diriyah holds importance as the bridge between cultures and generations making it a tourism hotspot within the Kingdom and wider region.

Inzerillo underscored the significance of World Tourism Day as a global commitment to heritage preservation, cultural exchange, and the creation of unforgettable experiences for visitors from around the world. He affirmed that Diriyah is dedicated to embodying these core principles of tourism on a daily basis.