Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Tourism advances global workforce agenda at WTTC Global Summit, unveiling joint “Future of Work” report

The Saudi Ministry of Tourism has successfully concluded a dynamic program at the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) 25th Global Summit in Rome. The summit brought together global leaders, policymakers, and industry experts to chart the future of global tourism, with Saudi Arabia taking center stage as a driving force for innovation, collaboration, and workforce transformation.

During the three-day gathering, His Excellency Ahmed Al-Khateeb, Minister of Tourism for Saudi Arabia, played a pivotal role in shaping the agenda. He co-launched the highly anticipated "Future of Work" report and joined the "Bridging Continents: Collaborative Tourism Policies for a Connected Future" panel. In addition, H.E. Al-Khateeb engaged with leaders from across the public and private sectors through side sessions, including the Private Sector Chairs and CEO Roundtable.

The Future of Work report—developed by WTTC in collaboration with Saudi Ministry of Tourism, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Coraggio Group and Miles Partnership—forecasts a global shortfall of more than 43 million workers across 20 major economies by 2035. It highlights accelerating demand for digital, AI, and sustainability skills, alongside rising pressure in hospitality roles, where an 18% gap (8.6 million workers) is projected. It also outlines that the travel and tourism sector is one of the world’s largest employers and is growing rapidly.

Saudi Arabia is showcased in the report as a model for workforce transformation. Since 2020, the Kingdom has created more than 649,000 training opportunities for current and aspiring tourism professionals. Based on the latest reports from GASTAT, dedicated efforts to empower Saudi women in the tourism sector led to their representation reaching around 46% of the total Saudi tourism workforce. This is a key milestone supported by the introduction of National Occupational Skills Standards (NOSS) as well as the introduction of a dedicated Tourism and Hospitality course to 12th-grade high school students, designed to inspire early interest and awareness of the sector’s growing significance.

“The Future of Work report not only highlights the scale of the challenges ahead but also points to solutions. AI and digital innovation are reshaping jobs into smarter, more rewarding roles,” said H.E. Ahmed Al-Khateeb, Minister of Tourism of Saudi Arabia. “Saudi Arabia is proud to lead by example—with hundreds of thousands of training opportunities and a workforce that is nearly 50% women. By 2035, one in three new jobs will come from the travel and tourism sector globally, making this sector a unique engine of global economic growth.”

These achievements reflect Saudi Arabia’s ambitions under Vision 2030, which aims to transform the Kingdom into a global tourism leader through investments in digital innovation, sustainable development, and enhanced connectivity. For the second consecutive year, the Kingdom welcomed over 100 million domestic and inbound tourists in 2024.

Looking ahead, H.E. Al-Khateeb extended an invitation to ministers, CEOs, and global tourism partners to convene in Riyadh for two landmark gatherings: the 26th UN Tourism General Assembly (7–11 November 2025) and the inaugural TOURISE Summit (11–13 November 2025). Together, these events will advance dialogue on workforce development, investment, and smart destination policy.

The WTTC 25th Global Summit, held from 28–30 September under the theme “The Great Beauty (of Travel),” gathered leaders from more than 70 countries, reaffirming the power of tourism as a catalyst for global cooperation and economic progress.