Historic Jeddah Renews Its Presence at the World Travel Market in London
Historic Jeddah is renewing its participation at the World Travel Market in London (WTM), one of the world’s leading exhibitions dedicated to the travel and tourism industry. Running from 4 to 6 November, this year’s participation builds on its continuous presence in previous editions and reflects the district’s growing profile as a global tourism and cultural destination.
At this year’s exhibition, Historic Jeddah is introducing a new collection of tourism products and interactive experiences that highlight the development of the district’s visitor offering and enhance its presence as a global destination for visitation and discovery. These include guided tourism routes, led by qualified tour guides, and are distinguished by their diversity. Among the highlights is the Historic Pilgrimage Route, which retraces Jeddah’s role as the gateway to the Two Holy Mosques in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This route connects 10 archaeological sites linked to the pilgrimage journey throughout history, each brought to life through engaging storytelling, in addition to several other routes, which invite visitors to discover the district and interact with its living heritage.
Visitors to WTM can also experience a digital showcase of archaeological discoveries presented through QR codes that reveal the history and stories behind sites, architectural elements, and rare artifacts, offering an experience that combines knowledge, heritage, and technology.
The showcase also features special tourism packages for the teamLab Borderless Museum, offering visitors a unique experience combining modern digital arts and the richness of Historic Jeddah. In addition, Historic Jeddah’s page on the Google Arts & Culture platform takes audiences on virtual tours that explore the district’s cultural value and the diversity of its heritage landmarks.
Through participation in this global event, which attracted more than 40,000 specialists last year, the Ministry of Culture seeks to enhance the presence of Historic Jeddah on the international tourism map. It also highlights the district’s ongoing revival efforts and comprehensive rehabilitation since the launch of its strategic development project under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince and Prime Minister in 2021. The project reflects the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 to preserve the Kingdom’s architectural heritage, grow its cultural and tourism sectors, and turn the district’s history and unique cultural elements into economic resources that contribute to supporting sustainable development.
Historic Jeddah is in the heart of Jeddah city and is one of the oldest urban settlements on the Red Sea coast, Saudi Arabia. For centuries, it served as a hub for pilgrims, traders, and travelers from across the Islamic world. Its iconic traditional Hijazi architectural style—reflected in its wooden rawasheen, coral-stone buildings, ancient mosques, and traditional markets—earned it a place on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2014.
In 2018, the Saudi Ministry of Culture launched the Jeddah Historic District Program to revive the district’s architectural integrity and cultural vitality, transforming it into a global tourist destination rooted in Saudi identity, in line with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030. This includes restoring historic buildings, rehabilitating public spaces, and stimulating cultural and economic activities.
As part of the program structure, the destination management team provides an integrated experience for visitors, including tourist guidance, a unified call center, digital services, publications, and licensing, in addition to coordination with service providers to ensure comprehensive and optimal operations.
https://www.visitsaudi.com/en/jeddah
