RIYADH, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) — The 26th Session of the UN Tourism General Assembly released Monday in Riyadh the Riyadh Declaration on the Future of Tourism, with members pledging to build a more sustainable, inclusive, and technologically advanced global tourism sector.
The declaration sets out 11 key commitments, beginning with an urgent call for members to “act immediately to advance and accelerate progress toward a more sustainable tourism sector that balances environmental stewardship, economic vitality, and social wellbeing.”
Acknowledging the rapid pace of technological change, particularly in artificial intelligence (AI) and digital innovation, the document urges the use of these tools to drive innovation, enable data-informed policymaking, and enhance visitor experiences.
It tasks UN Tourism and its secretary-general with preparing a strategic roadmap on the future of tourism, which will be presented to the Executive Council and funded through voluntary contributions from interested members.
In a press conference, Saudi Tourism Minister Ahmed Al Khateeb said the Riyadh Declaration emphasizes sustainability, air connectivity, and human capital development and training.
The minister revealed that member states highlighted the importance of digital transformation in the travel and tourism sector, including the use of AI to automate functions that do not require human intervention.
The 26th session of the UN Tourism General Assembly is being held in Riyadh from Nov. 7 to 11.
