Wednesday, November 12, 2025
Global Tourism to Create 90 Million Jobs by 2034, Says Saudi Minister Ahmed Al-Khateeb
Tourism Minister Ahmed Al-Khateeb announced that the global tourism industry employs over 357 million people and is expected to create around 90 million more jobs by 2034. However, there is currently a shortage of 40 million workers, which needs quick and effective solutions.
Speaking at the TOURISE Summit 2025 in Riyadh, Al-Khateeb said the issue was also discussed at the UN General Assembly. He emphasized the need for cooperation between governments and the private sector to close this employment gap through real-world actions and innovative ideas. Recommend: Saudi Arabia extends runaway domestic workers' grace period for 6 more months
More than 50 tourism ministers from across the world are at the summit to talk about how technology and artificial intelligence (AI) will affect the future of tourism. Al-Khateeb added that AI will be essential, but it will not replace the human touch, which is still necessary in tourism industries that require people to talk to one another.
He also noted that 40% of tourism jobs can go to women and 30% to young people, making the sector a key driver of sustainable employment. Al-Khateeb called for efforts to protect tourism jobs and ensure that small nations, islands, and developing regions—especially in Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, and the Pacific—have fair opportunities for growth and decent living standards. See Also: King Salman calls everyone in KSA to perform Istisqa prayer on Thursday
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| Global Tourism to Create 90 Million Jobs by 2034, Says Saudi Minister Ahmed Al-Khateeb |
