The Israeli Tourism Minister Haim Katz travelled to Saudi Arabia for a United Nations conference. This is the first public trip to Saudi Arabia by an Israeli cabinet member.
Katz is leading a delegation as part of a UN World Tourism Organization event.
Katz said that tourism can bring people together and help the economy.
He said that he will work to improve cooperation between Israel and Saudi Arabia in tourism and foreign relations.
The United States (US) has been urging Israel and Saudi Arabia to normalize diplomatic relations.
The Palestinians have criticized these efforts, saying that they are a betrayal of their cause.
Katz arrived in Riyadh on Tuesday with a delegation to attend the UN event.
The minister said that he will work to improve cooperation between Israel and Saudi Arabia in tourism and foreign relations.
Last week, the Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, said that the kingdom is getting closer to a deal with Israel, but that the Palestinian cause is still very important to Saudi Arabia.
In recent months, Israel has sent delegations to Saudi Arabia to participate in sports and other events.
On Tuesday, Saudi Arabia sent its first delegation in three decades to the occupied West Bank. The delegation was led by Naif bin Bandar Al Sudairi, the new Saudi ambassador to the Palestinians.
Al Sudairi said that the Palestinian cause is a fundamental pillar of Saudi Arabia's foreign policy.
He also said that the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative is a cornerstone of any upcoming deal with Israel.
The 2002 Arab Peace Initiative proposed Arab relations with Israel in exchange for its withdrawal from the West Bank, east Jerusalem, Gaza and the Golan Heights, and a just resolution for the Palestinians.
Al Sudairi's delegation was the first from Saudi Arabia to visit the West Bank since the 1993 Oslo Accords. He said that he hopes that Saudi Arabia will have an embassy in Jerusalem again someday.
Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas has expressed strong reservations about Arab countries building ties with Israel.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that many states in the Middle East want peace with Israel. But, his government has been expanding illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.
More than 200 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire this year. At least 35 Israelis have also been killed in Palestinian attacks during the same period.
