Minister of People’s Power for Tourism of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
November 2025 was one of the busiest months for Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, as it hosted numerous events and conferences. A historic highlight was the UN Tourism 26th General Assembly, the largest tourism assembly in history. This year, the assembly was held in the Gulf for the first time, marking a significant milestone for the entire region. Delegates from 148 countries attended, including 97 ministers, 18 deputy and vice ministers, 14 ambassadors, and 20 world leaders.
This event provided an excellent opportunity to meet with Dr. Leticia Gómez, the Minister of People’s Power for Tourism of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
What are the achievements of Saudi-Venezuelan diplomacy in tourism?
The relationship between Venezuela and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is strategic, based on mutual trust, security, and the desire to develop long-term bilateral cooperation. The main achievements of our diplomacy focus on strengthening and deepening relations in the tourism sector, under a diplomacy of peace and mutual respect.
We have expressed our intention to promote medium- and long-term actions to increase the dissemination, promotion, and positioning of the tourism sector in both countries. An important achievement is the intention to establish mechanisms for the exchange of information on cooperation between higher education institutions and the training of our human capital in areas of service quality and the use of cutting-edge technologies. We also seek to establish air connectivity and coordinate the joint promotion of Venezuela as an investment destination, which is essential to attract Saudi tourists who prioritize safety and excellence.
As part of its Vision 2030 program, Saudi Arabia aspires to become a leading tourist destination. What are the key factors driving tourism growth any given country?
I appreciate your question and take this opportunity to acknowledge the admirable ambition of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Its strategy, based on monumental investment in infrastructure and the creation of mega-destinations, sets a precedent. We observe that the factors driving Saudi growth are centered on productive diversification to overcome oil dependency, a vision we share. Its success is based on a strong capacity for investment in infrastructure development and the implementation of cutting-edge technologies, aspects we seek to integrate into our cooperation. Furthermore, its strategy is focused on attracting tourists who prioritize safety and excellence.
The Venezuelan model is based on a slightly different strategy, anchored in our immense resilience and unique diversity. Our growth is not accidental, but rather the result of Tourism Sovereignty policies. We can identify some fundamental pillars driving this growth. This political will and operational resilience—President Nicolás Maduro’s firm political decision to consolidate tourism as the “secret weapon” for economic diversification. Sustained growth—we have achieved year-on-year increases in international arrivals exceeding 70%, and in some periods, even 108%. Investment in services—the stability achieved and the investment directed toward improving services and security are key pillars. Strategic connectivity—we have reconfigured our air connectivity map through Peace Diplomacy
Our growth is based on management that recognizes tourism not as a mere economic activity, but as a catalyst for endogenous development, generating local roots and prosperity, fully aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals and the UN Tourism 2030 Agenda.
One of the pillars of modern diplomacy is people-to-people ties. Why should Saudis visit Venezuela, and what do you think attracts Venezuelans to Saudi Arabia?
Our diplomacy is based on strengthening cultural ties and mutual understanding, offering the authentic face of Venezuela and promoting a secure environment. Saudis should visit Venezuela for its megadiversity. We offer a unique experience in destinations such as Los Roques, Canaima, and Mérida, with sun, beaches, mountains, plains, rainforest, and cultural experiences. Visitors can witness firsthand the real Venezuela: a hospitable and friendly country, transcending any narrative of risk. Tourism is promoted under criteria of inclusion and social justice.
In terms of what attracts Venezuelans to Saudi Arabia, I believe that the attraction is based on mutual respect and interest in an ancient culture, the desire to explore a land of significant scenic beauty, and the opportunity to discover unique and diverse destinations for our citizens. Furthermore, there is a desire to strengthen and deepen relationships and the opportunity to access expert exchange and training in areas such as service quality and the use of cutting-edge technologies.
Venezuela and Saudi Arabia have the largest proven oil reserves. Beyond oil, what unique assets do you believe these countries possess that should be developed for their long-term prosperity?
Both nations share an economic vision of productive diversification and overcoming oil dependency. Tourism is the engine of this new economy in Venezuela. One of the Venezuela’s unique assets is megadiversity. Our greatest advantage is nature, which should be developed through tourism. There are 18 megadiverse countries in the world, and Venezuela ranks 7th among them. We hold a strategic location. We seek to consolidate Venezuela as the gateway to and from other countries in the region, creating multi-destination packages with sister nations. Our human potential is no less important. We propose training human talent in service quality and hotel management to raise the standard of hospitality.
For its part, Saudi Arabia’s unique assets, viewed as opportunities for cooperation, are investment capacity; we see Saudi Arabia as a strategic partner for direct investment in infrastructure and the development of new tourism products in Venezuela. Technological expertise: Its experience in the use of cutting-edge technologies and hotel management is valuable for the exchange of experts we propose.
