The Metaverse Institute is honoured to join a meeting in Riyadh, capital of Saudi Arabia with representatives from UN Tourism Regional Office in the Middle East. Dr Christina Yan Zhang, CEO of The Metaverse Institute was invited to meet representatives from UN Tourism Regional Office in The Middle East to discuss collaborations opportunities.
Luis Nicolas Barrios Medina-Montoya Regional Manager UN Tourism met with Dr Christina Yan Zhang of The Metaverse Institute together with other UN Tourism Colleagues such as MD Khorshed Alam Senior Specialist – Innovation, Education & Investments, Peter Janetch, Coordinator, Deputy Director, as well as Megha Paul, Senior Communications Specialist.
About UN Tourism ▶is a specialised agency of the UN which promotes responsible, sustainable and universally-accessible tourism. ▶has 160 Member States ▶headquartered in Madrid, Spain ▶its middle east headquarter is in Riyadh, Capital of Saudi Arabia
About The Global Tourism Industry ▶contributes 9.1% Global GDPs in 2023 ▶In the first seven months of 2024, 790 million tourists traveled internationally, 11% more than in 2023, though 4% less than in 2019. ▶Export revenues from international tourism reached $ 1.8 trillion in 2023, almost matching pre-pandemic levels ▶Tourism’s direct contribution to GDP recovered to pre-pandemic levels in 2023, reaching an $ 3.4 trillion ▶The Middle East remained the strongest-growing region, with international arrivals climbing 26% above 2019 levels.
About Saudi Arabia Tourism ▶ranked 12th by UN Tourism Barometre, 15 more places than before ▶welcomed 17.5 million international tourists in the first seven months of 2024, 73% increase compared to the same period in 2019. ▶International tourism revenue in Saudi Arabia surged by 207%. ▶achieved target of attracting 100 million tourists in 2023, seven years ahead of schedule.
Princess Haifa bint Mohammed bin Saud bin Khalid, Saudi vice minister of Tourism, announced that there are currently 925,000 individuals employed in the tourism sector, of which 45 percent are women. She highlighted the commendable efforts of these individuals in empowering human capital and fostering skills and capabilities for both the present and the future.
These remarks were made during her participation in the ‘Creating a Future-proof Workforce in the Tourism Industry and Beyond’ dialogue session, which took place as part of the Human Capacity Initiative Conference held lately in Riyadh.
The session included other notable participants such as Dr. Christina Yan Zhang, CEO of the Metaverse Institute; Alistair Gosling, founder and CEO of EXTREME International; Hanin Al-Subaie, founder of the Darent application; and Mohammed Al-Mulhim, founder of Pangea Tourism and Adventure Company.
Technological transformation of global jobs
The Vice Minister underscored that, according to the World Economic Forum (WEF), around 33 percent of global jobs will undergo transformation due to technological advancements, necessitating reskilling and skill development. She further explained that technology will play a crucial role in the tourism sector, enabling entry into new domains and necessitating adaptation. By investing in technology and integrating it into the field, those working in tourism can enhance their development and progress, including utilizing data science for informed decision-making.
Investing in future-oriented opportunities in tourism
Throughout the session, the speakers stressed that cities worldwide are striving to develop their tourism sectors and leverage tools to attract diverse groups of tourists. They emphasized the convergence of virtual reality with the real world and the importance of investing in future-oriented opportunities within the field. Furthermore, they highlighted the need for skilled technicians who can fully harness these capabilities and adapt modern technologies to benefit humanity in various aspects of life.
The Saudi Press Agency (SPA), established in 1971, is a prime reference for those interested in local news and events. The agency provides accurate and real-time media content in several languages. It operates according to professional best practices and makes use of the latest effective communication techniques. SPA seeks to be an influential voice of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the Arab and Islamic worlds, as well as globally.
