Saudi pavilion shines at Arabian Travel Market, a hotbed of strategic partnerships and development announcements

  • – Record number of deals and agreements made with key trade partners, highlighting confidence and support for Saudi’s tourism industry at the Middle East’s largest travel trade event.
  • – The pavilion was an interactive showcase of the diversity of culture, landscapes and authentic heritage of Saudi’s tourism offering.

Dubai, UAE, 18 May 2022 – Last week, the Saudi pavilion at Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2022 brought to life the sights, tastes and sounds of Saudi’s dynamic tourism offering, displaying the breadth and diversity of what global travelers can experience. 

The Saudi pavilion was a flurry of activity at every visitor touchpoint, bringing Saudi, the authentic home of Arabia into the hearts and minds of international trade and travelers. 

From the immersive tunnel of stunning destination highlights to the Saudi café, grounded in authentic Arabian hospitality, the pavilion was a true reflection of the country’s inspiring transformation journey, a blend of its rich cultural traditions and rapidly evolving lifestyle offering.

The sounds of Saudi resonated through the pavilion, visitors warmly welcomed by traditional Najdi song and dance as well as the modern beats of renowned Saudi violinist, DJ and producer, Kayan. 

Partners and visitors reconnected and engaged at the Saudi pavilion, which saw more than 90 deals and agreements made between leading travel companies and international tourism partners – demonstrating the support and commitment towards the continued success of Saudi’s tourism ecosystem, as the world’s must-visit leisure travel destination. 

“The beauty of Saudi lies in its diversity, charm and authenticity as the true home of Arabia,” said Fahd Hamidaddin, CEO and Member of the Board at Saudi Tourism Authority. “We are building the world’s biggest new destination, with Saudi’s rich culture and heritage, stunning, unique landscapes and dynamic lifestyle offering at the heart of our offering.”

“Saudi is incomparable in its inspiration, to welcome and invite the world to experience the breadth of what we have to offer as a country and the warmth and hospitality of our people.”

“We present the biggest opportunity in tourism today, for the industry and for consumers. Our focus is on continuing to build relationships with world-class brands and companies and this year’s ATM was a clear demonstration of the confidence and commitment we are witnessing from key international partners.”

Announcements made on the Saudi pavilion at this year’s ATM included:

  • SAUDIA launched a new in-flight entertainment system, Beyond, which will provide over 5,000 hours of HD content.
  • Diriyah Gate Development Authority announced the launch of the first educational art center dedicated solely to digital arts.
  • Royal Commission for AlUla launched its first Travel Agent Training Program and Trade Information Hub, ‘AlUla Specialist’ to facilitate training for global travel agents on the ancient city of AlUla.
  • Cruise Saudi announced that it had already surpassed its 2023 goal and plans to add a cruise port in Duba and Jizan in the south – targeting 1.3 million passengers by 2030.
  • The Red Sea Development Company is moving into the secondary phase of The Red Sea Project, with a new island master plan soon to be unveiled, delivering an additional 800 residential units in the market by 2023/24.

Find out more about Saudi Tourism Authority’s participation at this year’s Arabian Travel Market and the exciting range of activities available to tourists in Saudi at:

·   Saudi Tourism Authority

·   Visit Saudi

About Saudi Tourism Authority

Saudi Tourism Authority (STA), launched in June 2020, is responsible for marketing Saudi’s tourism destinations worldwide and developing the destination’s offering through programs, packages and business support. Its mandate includes developing the country’s unique assets and destinations, hosting and participating in industry events, and promoting Saudi’s destination brand locally and overseas. STA operates 16 representative offices around the world, serving 38 countries.