The event, which is being organized from March 27 to 31 under the theme “tourism for everyone, continuous partnership for development,” includes 12 workshops and discussions on various issues.

Abdullah Al-Jehani, vice-president for marketing and media at the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquity (SCTA), said the forum would help boost SCTA’s efforts to promote tourism as a lucrative industry for many private and public sector organizations.

The SCTA aims at enhancing the concept of tourism through forums as it plays a key role in national development, he told a press conference.

The past three sessions of the forum helped raise awareness about tourism investments, services and marketing campaigns, he pointed out.

The tourism sector provides a wide range of career prospects to citizens and the forum would analyze ways of widening those opportunities, the official added.

Riyadh Exhibition Company Deputy Manager Mohammad Al-Hussaini said the event had attracted more than 32 companies, four of them global companies specialized in tourism.

He said 14 local tourism development groups were also taking part in the conference and the exhibition.

The exhibition space has increased by 2,000 square meters to 9,600 square meters from last year.

Al-Hussaini said many family events, tours and carnivals were being organized across the Kingdom to coincide with the forum. Handicraft and folk art shows have also been lined up.

Outstanding hotels will be honored at an award ceremony, he said.