Gathering of Over 120 Members and Diplomats at Virtual Travel and Tourism Conference
World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) Emphasizes Global Collaboration for Travel and Tourism Recovery
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) recently hosted its first virtual Annual General Meeting (AGM), with a focus on the recovery of the travel and tourism sector following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Gloria Guevara, WTTC President & CEO, opened the meeting by stating that 2020 will be remembered as the year the world stood still due to the pandemic. The pandemic has caused millions of people to lose loved ones worldwide and has had a devastating impact on the travel and tourism industry.
Despite the challenges, the G20 Leaders have pledged to continue collaborating with stakeholders, including the private sector, to facilitate the Travel & Tourism sector's recovery. The conclusion of the meeting was that restarting international travel in a safe and seamless way is vital to recover the 140 million plus jobs impacted by the pandemic.
WTTC Members praised the G20 Leaders for recognising the importance of working with the private sector and the role that Travel & Tourism will play in the recovery. The WTTC's 100 Million Jobs Recovery Plan aims to support the creation of over 100 million new jobs in the global travel and tourism sector by 2034.
The AGM was attended by more than 120 CEOs from around the world, including Taleb Rifai, Michel Taride, Michael Frenzel, Peter Greenberg, and Chris Nassetta, who chaired the meeting as the President & CEO of Hilton and WTTC Chair.
In addition, the G20 Tourism Working Group was established, and letters were sent to the Heads of State of the G7, Australia, South Korea, and Spain, calling for strong leadership and effective international collaboration to resume travel safely.
The WTTC has been at the forefront of leading the private sector in rebuilding global consumer confidence and the drive to rebuild international travel. The organisation presented its 100 Million Jobs Recovery Plan to G20 Tourism Ministers and over 45 CEOs and Members of WTTC in October.
Furthermore, the G20 endorsed the G20 Guidelines for Action on Safe and Seamless Travel, a key priority for WTTC since 2017. The guidelines aim to ensure that travel and tourism can resume safely and seamlessly, while also promoting economic growth and job creation.
Spain will be hosting an event next week to advance key actions to restart the sector and enhance international collaboration. The event will focus on the importance of public-private collaboration and the role that the travel and tourism sector will play in the global recovery.
Progress so far includes a significant rebound in international travel and tourism activity with growing job creation aligned with the goal of the WTTC's 100 Million Jobs Recovery Plan. By 2025, global tourism revenues are expected to be at record levels, supporting approximately 3.2 million jobs in certain countries like Spain alone, which saw inbound tourism recover and exceed pre-pandemic levels dramatically. International arrivals in key regions, such as the Middle East, have surged well above pre-pandemic numbers, reflecting strong recovery momentum.
In summary, the WTTC's AGM emphasised the critical need for public-private collaboration to sustain the momentum and adapt to evolving tourism dynamics. The recovery is propelled by rising visitor numbers, industry innovation, and global collaboration, and current data shows robust job growth and tourism spending gains indicating meaningful progress towards the 100 million jobs objective. The WTTC continues to emphasize the critical need for public-private collaboration to sustain this momentum and adapt to evolving tourism dynamics.
- The WTTC's 100 Million Jobs Recovery Plan, aimed at creating over 100 million jobs in the global travel and tourism sector by 2034, highlights the significant role that the industry plays in recovery efforts, especially in financial terms.
- In light of the pandemic's devastating impact on the travel and tourism industry, restarting international tourism in a safe and seamless manner is critical for the restoration of the more than 140 million jobs affected.
- Chris Nassetta, President & CEO of Hilton and WTTC Chair, chaired the AGM, which was attended by over 120 CEOs from around the world, indicating a strong commitment from the private sector to aid the recovery of the travel and tourism industry.
- For the resumption of travel to be safe and seamless, the G20 Guidelines for Action on Safe and Seamless Travel, a priority for the WTTC since 2017, will provide essential guidance, promoting economic growth, job creation, and maintaining consumer confidence in the travel and tourism industry.
