WTD 2023 Concludes in Riyadh with Participation of More Than 500 Experts from 120 Countries

More than 50 tourism ministers, 120 officials, and over 500 experts and leaders in the sector and in this year’s celebration of the WTD. SPA
More than 50 tourism ministers, 120 officials, and over 500 experts and leaders in the sector and in this year’s celebration of the WTD. SPA
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WTD 2023 Concludes in Riyadh with Participation of More Than 500 Experts from 120 Countries

More than 50 tourism ministers, 120 officials, and over 500 experts and leaders in the sector and in this year’s celebration of the WTD. SPA
More than 50 tourism ministers, 120 officials, and over 500 experts and leaders in the sector and in this year’s celebration of the WTD. SPA

A series of events organized in Riyadh on the occasion of the 2023 World Tourism Day (WTD) concluded with the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) hailing this year’s celebration as the largest and most influential ever in its 43-year history.

More than 50 tourism ministers, 120 officials, and over 500 experts and leaders in the sector and UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili participated in this year’s celebration of the WTD which was held under the theme, “Tourism & Green Investments.”

Minister of Tourism Ahmed bin Aqeel Al-Khateeb extended his thanks and gratitude to the Kingdom’s leadership for their constant and endless support to the tourism sector, attributing the historic leaps the sector has achieved in terms of creating jobs and investments to the special attention and tremendous support of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister.

Al-Khateeb has also highlighted the successes the Kingdom has achieved and its contributions to the global tourism landscape through organizing and hosting several international events that had their impact on bringing the global tourism sector to pre-pandemic levels.

The activities and sessions of the WTD in Riyadh focused on enhancing international cooperation and sustainable development in the global tourism sector. The WTD also witnessed the Kingdom’s announcement of new details about the International Tourism Academy, Riyadh’s gift to the world. The academy provides international educational and vocational programs in tourism and hospitality fields.



Putin Approves Military Focused 2025-2027 Budget

Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with the Governor of the Kirov region in Moscow, Russia, 29 November 2024.  EPA/VYACHESLAV PROKOFIEV / SPUTNIK / KREMLIN POOL
Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with the Governor of the Kirov region in Moscow, Russia, 29 November 2024. EPA/VYACHESLAV PROKOFIEV / SPUTNIK / KREMLIN POOL
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Putin Approves Military Focused 2025-2027 Budget

Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with the Governor of the Kirov region in Moscow, Russia, 29 November 2024.  EPA/VYACHESLAV PROKOFIEV / SPUTNIK / KREMLIN POOL
Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with the Governor of the Kirov region in Moscow, Russia, 29 November 2024. EPA/VYACHESLAV PROKOFIEV / SPUTNIK / KREMLIN POOL

Russian President Vladimir Putin has approved a military focused budget for 2025-2027, a document published on the official legal acts website showed on Sunday.
The state budget for next year includes a 25% hike in military spending but will be the most secretive in post-Soviet history, with almost a third of all spending closed to public scrutiny, Reuters reported.
The government has acknowledged that the needs of what Moscow calls its special military operation in Ukraine and support for the military will remain the budget priority along with social needs and technological development.
The government has presented the draft budget as "balanced", with the deficit falling to 0.5% against this year's projected deficit of 1.7% and state debt remaining below the 20% mark for the next three years.