Saudi Arabia's Minister of Tourism, Ahmed Al Khateeb, revealed ambitious plans to generate 250,000 job opportunities as the kingdom hosts Expo 2030 in Riyadh. The announcement was made at the inaugural Global Labour Market Conference (GLMC) in Riyadh, where Al Khateeb underscored the significance of sustainable job creation.

At the "Accelerated Progress in the Labour Market" ministerial roundtable, Al Khateeb outlined the Expo 2030 initiative's role in fostering employment, with over 1,000 new hotel rooms to be created alongside the global exhibition, offering diverse job prospects.

Inaugurated by Ahmad Al Rajhi, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, the GLMC drew over 6,000 delegates from 40+ countries, providing a platform to discuss challenges and innovative solutions for global labor markets.

Al Khateeb emphasized the national tourism strategy launched in 2019, aiming to elevate the tourism sector's GDP contribution from 3% to 10% by 2030, creating an additional one million jobs. The minister highlighted Saudi Arabia's leadership in the UNWTO and its priorities, including sustainability, suitable job creation, tourism growth, and destination preservation.

Addressing the evolving labor market, Al Khateeb acknowledged the projected global population of 8.5 billion by 2030 and emphasized the impact of digitization on employment. Despite initial disruptions due to the pandemic, the tourism sector has rebounded, aligning with reports from the UNWTO and the Travel and Tourism Council indicating a return to pre-pandemic levels.

Al Khateeb stressed the tourism sector's vital role in global employment, representing 10% of the labor market. He emphasized preserving the human element in tourism, crucial for sharing cultural experiences and stories from diverse countries.