Minister Vijitha Herath expressed Sri Lanka’s strong support for the Riyadh Declaration on the Future of Tourism during the UNWTO General Assembly held from November 7–11, 2025.
Addressing the Assembly, Minister Herath congratulated Ahmed Al-Khateeb, President of the Assembly, for his leadership, and thanked the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for hosting the event. He also extended Sri Lanka’s support to Ms. Shaikha Al Nowais, the newly appointed Secretary-General of the UN Tourism Organization, while acknowledging the contributions of outgoing Secretary-General Mr. Zurab Pololikashvili.
Minister Herath highlighted the role of digitalization and artificial intelligence (AI) in advancing global tourism. He noted that tourism and digitalization are priority sectors in Sri Lanka’s economic strategy, and the Cabinet of Ministers recently approved policy guidelines to enhance the tourism sector through digitalization for greater economic inclusivity.
Sri Lanka said that the Riyadh Declaration provides a broad framework compatible with national tourism plans integrating AI and digital technologies. The country also expressed anticipation for key outputs of the declaration, including reports on AI’s impact on tourism and prospects for a future convention.
Minister Herath concluded by reiterating Sri Lanka’s full support for the adoption of the Riyadh Declaration and its commitment to advancing sustainable and technology-driven tourism.
