Toledo: Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khateeb and Minister of Tourism of the Republic of Indonesia Widiyanti Putri Wardhana held a meeting today on the sidelines of the 126th Session of the UN Tourism Executive Council in Toledo, Spain. The ministers discussed ways to strengthen bilateral tourism cooperation, expand visitor flows, and build on the longstanding ties between Saudi Arabia and Indonesia.
According to Saudi Press Agency, Al-Khateeb emphasized the unique tourism connection shared by Saudi Arabia and Indonesia, rooted in faith and culture. He highlighted ongoing efforts with Indonesian partners to enrich these connections, expand tourism exchanges, enhance the visitor experience, and create opportunities for destinations, businesses, and communities in both nations.
Wardhana expressed Indonesia's readiness to deepen its partnership with Saudi Arabia, particularly in tourism. She noted that Saudi Arabia is a key partner for Indonesia in the Middle East and underscored the importance of mutual respect and shared benefits.
During the meeting, the ministers reaffirmed the importance of the Saudi-Indonesian tourism partnership and reviewed progress under the existing Memorandum of Understanding. They explored opportunities to increase Indonesian visitor flows to Saudi Arabia, especially in religious and leisure tourism, and discussed enriching the experiences of Indonesia's Hajj and Umrah visitors by introducing them to destinations beyond Makkah and Madinah.
Indonesia is also preparing to welcome more Saudi tourists by proposing the establishment of Arabic and Hospitality Centers at the Lombok Tourism Polytechnic. This initiative aims to enhance the professional competencies of the Indonesian tourism workforce to better serve and accommodate Arab tourists.
The bilateral meeting was held on the sidelines of the 126th session of the UN Tourism Executive Council, where both countries are active members, focusing on driving collective action and ensuring sustainability, resilience, and inclusion in the global tourism sector.