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In 2025, the Middle East saw robust growth in travel and tourism, rising 5.3%, exceeding the global rate of 4.1%. This surge was largely driven by Saudi Arabia, which accounted for 46% of the region’s tourism economy. However, the current situation tells a different story, as ongoing geo<a href="https://absafricatv.com/book-review-playing-with-fire-parties-and-political-violence-in-kenya-and-india-2/” title=”Book Review – Playing with fire: Parties and political violence in Kenya and India”>political tensions continue to affect countries across the Middle East
Weeks after confirming that sectoral growth declined by 5-6% in the first five months of 2026 compared to the previous year, Saudi Arabia’s Tourism Minister Ahmed Al-Khateeb announced the introduction of the AI Tourism Vision. This is a comprehensive strategic framework to create a smarter, more efficient, and sustainable tourism ecosystem
The vision aims to elevate tourism experiences, enhance operational productivity, empower investors and professionals, and strengthen the country’s position as a global hub for tourism innovation
An integral part of the vision was the launch of TourismX, a global platform dedicated to tourism AI that serves as the new digital infrastructure for the sector’s future
“Just as infrastructure reshaped economies over the past decades, artificial intelligence is now reshaping how we discover destinations, design experiences, and manage tourism services. This is why Saudi Arabia is launching the AI Tourism Vision, to build a more innovative, efficient, and sustainable future for the sector,” said Al-Khateeb.
“We are leveraging AI to enhance the visitor experience, empower investors, and improve the productivity of operators and professionals across the sector. Our ambition is for Saudi Arabia to become the global benchmark for smart tourism, and a model for using technology to serve people and improve quality of life,” he added
Along with TourismX, the Ministry announced a new suite of offerings: the Saudi MT App, a beta one-stop AI-powered platform for Ministry services; the MT Developer Portal, a unified environment for APIs and digital integration; Smart Inspector, a platform to support field inspection teams during the Hajj 1447H season; and the Smart Check-In tool, an application aimed at improving the efficiency of pilgrim reception and distribution across accommodation facilities
According to the ministry, the launch reinforces its commitment to placing tourism at the heart of national transformation as a key economic and social enabler, thereby positioning the Kingdom as a leading global tourism destination
