The Saudi pavilion at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2021 was humming with commercial partnerships and expansion announcements, showcasing the stability and faith in Saudi Arabia's developing tourism industry as it works to reconstruct and recover internationally.

“Saudi Arabia is paving the way for a new tourist paradigm for the twenty-first century,” stated Fahd Hamidaddin, CEO of the Saudi Tourism Authority. “This year's ATM highlighted that significant global travel industry firms recognize the massive opportunity that our vibrant and rising tourist sector provides.”

Nearly 890 meetings and a swarm of negotiations were seen between the country's major travel businesses and foreign tourism partners at the Saudi exhibitor booth, showing the rapidly increasing portfolio of one of the world's latest leisure travel places.

These announcements made on the Saudi pavilion during this year's ATM:

• The Saudi Tourism Authority (STA) and Travel Boutique Online (TBO), India's biggest online travel agency, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to improve Saudi destination expertise through new, creative programs on the TBO Academy platform, engaging 90,000 agents internationally and reaching 25,000 tourists by 2022.

• STA and Hotelbeds, the world's greatest bed bank, struck a cooperative marketing deal to make people aware of Saudi Arabia as a distinctive and fascinating destination among the Hotelbeds B2B network from over 180,000 travel agencies.

• A strategic collaboration involving regional travel services business Seera Group and online booking portal Klook to provide a one-stop digital booking platform for Saudi tourist companies.

• IHG Properties & Resorts has signed a Master Development Agreement (MDA) with RIVA Development Company to open at least seven hotels throughout IHG's range of brands in Saudi Arabia.

• Saudia, Saudi Arabia's national flag carrier, and Etihad Airways, the UAE's national airline, announced the new reciprocal loyalty partnership that will enable loyalty program customers to earn and redeem points on flights on both networks.

• Ajlan & Bros Holding and Desert Adventures Tourism have announced a joint venture to build a full-service DMC in Saudi Arabia.

• Aviareps, a GCC travel service, has created itineraries for AlUla, one of Saudi Arabia's prime nature, cultural, and historical attractions.

• Several expansion projects, like the Crowne Plaza Riyadh Palace Hotel and the Riyadh Airport Marriott Hotel, by hotel operator and developer Dur Hospitality.

• The introduction of GoZahid Destination Management, a specialized DMC brand of Zahid Travel, one among Saudi Arabia's first travel firms.

“Partnerships with the world's leading tourism companies are making Saudi Arabia's grand vision as a leisure tourist destination a reality, therefore we were ecstatic to see so much good momentum at ATM.”

“We appreciate ATM's organizers for the chance to demonstrate the region and the world Saudi Arabia's famous destinations, meaningful experiences, and unrivaled hospitality,” Hamidaddin added.

The show's activities paralleled the amazing rise of Saudi Arabia's tourist economy. Local destination management firms (DMCs) have increased from 17 in the summer of 2019 to 72 presently.

MSC Cruises will debut two Red Sea cruises with Saudi homeports in the autumn, while major hotel brands such as Marriott Worldwide, Hilton International, and Accor Group will join IHG in increasing their presence in Saudi Arabia.