Travel industry expert, Qusai Al-Fakhri, appointed to World Travel & Tourism Council's Executive Committee
Qusai Al-Fakhri, the CEO of the Tourism Development Fund (TDF) in Saudi Arabia, has been appointed to the Executive Committee of the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC). This move signifies WTTC's commitment to onboarding world-class leaders with diverse expertise to help shape the future of Travel & Tourism.
Al-Fakhri's extensive background in tourism development, corporate and investment banking, and institutional coverage positions him as an ideal addition to the WTTC Executive Committee. His appointment follows a successful tenure as the CEO of Al Ajial Holding and his role as an Investment Advisor to the Minister of Tourism for Saudi Arabia.
In his role at TDF, Al-Fakhri has made significant strides in tourism development, contributing to the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 goals. His achievements include the launch of entrepreneurial support programs, such as the Grow Tourism Incubator, Tourism Hackathons and Bootcamps, and the Grow Tourism Accelerator, designed to empower early-stage tourism startups and entrepreneurs.
Under Al-Fakhri’s leadership, TDF also initiated the "Tourism Olou" program, a graduate training initiative aimed at Saudi youth. This program, conducted in partnership with IE University in Spain, combines academic learning and on-the-job training to equip graduates with the skills needed to build successful careers in the tourism sector.
Al-Fakhri's efforts have also contributed to Saudi Arabia surpassing 100 million annual visitors ahead of schedule and reaching 116 million tourists in 2024, moving closer to the target of 150 million annual visitors by 2030. He emphasizes the practical enablement of businesses and entrepreneurs to build a sustainable tourism sector in line with Vision 2030’s economic diversification.
Al-Fakhri has also led efforts to create a comprehensive support ecosystem at TDF, addressing challenges faced by businesses at all stages. This has resulted in non-financial programs benefiting over 8,800 entrepreneurs and SMEs, helping them accelerate projects and enhance competitiveness in the tourism market.
Julia Simpson, the President & CEO of WTTC, expressed excitement about Al-Fakhri's appointment, praising his strong track record in tourism development. Al-Fakhri's appointment to the WTTC Executive Committee is a testament to his commitment to fostering growth and innovation in the travel and tourism industry, both in Saudi Arabia and globally.
In addition to his role at TDF, Al-Fakhri has held independent board positions with prominent financial institutions such as AlRajhi Takaful and Samba Financial Group. He is also a board committee member in several government entities related to tourism in Saudi Arabia.
As a co-founder of Tiraz AlArabia, Al-Fakhri's expertise spans investment banking, institutional coverage, and tourism strategy. His appointment to the WTTC Executive Committee is expected to bring valuable insights and contributions to the council's efforts to rebuild and reshape the global travel and tourism industry in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
[1] Tourism Development Fund (TDF) website: https://tdf.gov.sa/en/ [2] TDF's Fourth Cohort of "Tourism Olou" Program: https://tdf.gov.sa/en/news/tdf-announces-fourth-cohort-of-tourism-olou-program [3] TDF's Entrepreneurial Support Programs: https://tdf.gov.sa/en/programs/entrepreneurial-support-programs [4] TDF's "Tourism Olou" Program: https://tdf.gov.sa/en/programs/tourism-olou [5] TDF's Support Ecosystem for Tourism Entrepreneurs: https://tdf.gov.sa/en/programs/support-ecosystem-for-tourism-entrepreneurs
- Qusai Al-Fakhri's extensive experience in finance, particularly his background in corporate and investment banking, aligns him with the business sector, making him an ideal addition to the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) Executive Committee.
- As an Investment Advisor to the Minister of Tourism for Saudi Arabia and a board member of prominent financial institutions, Qusai Al-Fakhri's expertise extends beyond tourism development into the realm of finance, offering valuable insights to the WTTC's committee as they reshape the global travel and tourism industry.
