JTTX: Jeddah International Travel and Tourism Exhibition brings together local and international entities

The 12th edition of the Jeddah International Travel and Tourism Exhibition (JTTX) kicked off in the Saudi port city of Jeddah on Sunday, bringing together local and international tourism authorities, hoteliers, airlines, tour operators, travel agents and cruise lines.

More than 200 exhibitors from 27 countries are taking part in the three-day trade show. Maya Halfawi, head of the organising committee, said the exhibition – expected to be attended by over 30,000 people – “presented a new vision for the tourism sector.”

In addition to a host of local representatives, there are exhibitors from Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, Hungary, Georgia, Cyprus, Mauritius, Chad, Kazakhstan, Vietnam, Bosnia and Herzegovina, South Korea, Malaysia, Turkey and Jordan.

International tourism expo backing Saudi Vision 2030

JTTX at the Jeddah Superdome serves as a key platform for fostering collaboration, exploring strategies to enhance both of domestic and international tourism, and connecting foreign tourism businesses with countries seeking new investment opportunities, as per WAM.

The Jeddah International Travel and Tourism Exhibition supports the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, focusing on diversifying national income resources through tourism and helping strengthen both domestic and international travel sectors.

Ghada Shalaby, Egypt’s vice minister for tourism, described Saudi Arabia as a key market for Egyptian tourism, noting her country’s goal to attract 30 million visitors by 2028. “The number of tourists in Egypt reached 15 million by the end of 2023 for the first time ever.”

Cruise Saudi promoting the underrated Saudi coast

Datuk Musa Haji Yusof, deputy director general of promotion at Tourism Malaysia, also delivered a similar message. He said Malaysia attracted over 38,000 tourists from Saudi Arabia in 2023 and that it “aims to welcome more in 2024.”

Speaking to Arab News, Sangyong Lim, deputy director of the Korea Tourism Organisation, highlighted his country’s growing popularity among Saudi tourists, noting the presence of new direct flights helping increase the number of visitors from Saudi Arabia.

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During the exhibition, Cruise Saudi introduced its first product, Aroya Cruises – set to welcome its first guests later this year. The company seeks to introduce passengers to destinations along the Saudi coast that had never before been seen by international tourists.