It’s Official: The Best of The Best at ITB 2023 was Saudi Arabia

by: Juergen T Steinmetz |

HE Gloria Guevara, the top advisor to a proud Saudi Arabian Tourism Minister Ahmed Al-Khateeb, told eTurboNews today:

Under the leadership of our tourism minister, the foundation for tourism is defined in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia very successfully.

HE Gloria Guevara, top advisor to HE Minister Ahmed Al-Khateeb

The world’s biggest travel trade event ended tonight, March 9, on a cold, snowy night in Berlin, Germany.

ITB ended with a night of particular pride for the hard-working team from Saudi Arabia.

Anyone exploring the stand of the Kingdom entered a different world. It was an outstanding experience when stepping on the grounds of this masterpiece, showcasing tourism’s current and future, the stand for Saudi Arabia at ITB Berlin 2023.

Visiting the Saudi stand was a magnet for travel industry professionals, ministers, other top leaders, and VIPs.

Hon Edmund Bartlett, Min Tourism Jamaica, meets with HE Ahmed Al-Khateeb, at the Saudi Arabia Stand during ITB 2023 in Berlin.

The stand for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was “The Best of the Best” according to an award handed to the Saudi team by the CBS International Business School. All stands were assessed over two rounds throughout the three-day trade show, with honors handed out to Saudi Arabia tonight.

The Best of the Best is SAUDI ARABIA

Exhibitors were evaluated by an international team of 15 students from various branches of the business school.

eTurboNews journalist Dmytro Makarov first got a glimpse of the work environment at the ministry of tourism in Riyadh.

Having spent a few days in the ministry of Tourism in Riyadh, he said:

“At the Saudi Ministry of Tourism head office in Riyadh, there is not a 5 to 9 attitude. An international team of professionals works long hours and loves what they do.

When employed under the current minister, everyone seems to identify themself with the success of their program. Success becomes personal for everyone.

Saudi Arabia’s vision for tourism is the most unique and amazing undertaking any country or region has ever had to deal with.

eTurboNews reporter Dmytro Makarov

Budgets are secondary, and creativity and perfectionism are primary when developing the future of the tourism world for Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia has been setting many new trends for the rest of the world, even though it is one of the youngest travel and tourism markets for western visitors.

This attitude and positive outlook also showed in the German capital when Saudi Arabia brought the best of the country to ITB Berlin 2023 – with a Record Number of partners and products.

An interactive on-stand experience brought to life the rich culture and heritage of one of the world’s last frontiers of tourism. Visitors had an opportunity to immerse themselves in the authentic home of Arabia and to feel the unparalleled hospitality for which the country is known.

This Saudi Arabian presence in Berlin reflects the incredible growth the country is witnessing. Since opening to tourism in 2019, Saudi has been recognized as the world’s fastest-growing tourism destination in the G20. With an extraordinary +121% increase from pre-pandemic international tourism levels, Saudi achieved 93.5 million visits in 2022 and is outpacing global tourism sector recovery as recognized by the UNWTO.

As the world’s biggest investor in tourism, Saudi has committed $550bn to new destinations by 2030.

Preserving heritage and history, a $50.6 billion masterplan will transform Diriyah, a 300-year-old city and birthplace of Saudi, into one of the world’s most exciting cultural sites. In 2023, Red Sea Global, the world’s most ambitious luxury tourism development, will debut its first hotel openings: Six Senses, St. Regis, and Nujama – a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, tremendous growth in Saudi’s sun and sea offer.

Saudi’s participation at ITB Berlin has been seen as a commitment to the European market as STA increases its presence to facilitate trade development.

Fahd Hamidaddin, CEO and Member of the Board of the Saudi Tourism Authority, said: “Saudi is growing at the speed of light, transforming at a scale and pace the world has never witnessed before.”

“Last year, we recorded 93 million domestic and international visits, and in January this year achieved a record number of inbound overnight visitors.

We continue to gain momentum on this growth journey, and we must inspire and engage our partners to join us as we reinforce our commitment to the sector globally.

Our first participation at ITB Berlin is our most significant presence at an international event to date, bringing the best of our dynamic tourism offering to showcase what is unexpected about Saudi while also highlighting the diversity, beauty, hospitality, and energy of this destination.

Saudi aims to increase international air connectivity from 140+ cities to 250+ cities by 2030.

In January 2023, the first-ever free 96-hour stopover visa was launched through national carriers SAUDIA and flynas.

Ahead of the trade show, all individual and combined stands were divided into 11 categories according to geographical location or market segment, including Germany, Europe, Asia/Australia/Oceania, America/The Caribbean, Near/Middle East, Africa, Hotel Business, Carriers, Travel Organisations, Travel Support & Media, Travel Technology.

Full article: It’s Official: The Best of The Best at ITB 2023 was Saudi Arabia
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