Tag Archives: WTTC

Gloria Guevara, President & CEO of WTTC shared with TravTalkME that the priority of the organisation is to ensure the safety and support travellers during the current situation in the Middle East. “WTTC is closely following the impact that the current tensions in the Middle East are having on travellers, businesses and communities across the region and beyond. The safety and wellbeing of travellers and those working across the Travel & Tourism sector must always remain the highest priority. “At times such as these, close cooperation between governments and the private sector is essential. WTTC’s Members and partners are working together to prioritise safety, share information and support travellers and communities affected by disruption. “Travel & Tourism plays a vital role in connecting people, sustaining livelihoods and fostering mutual understanding. WTTC stands alongside the global sector in supporting safe and responsible travel, while encouraging stability that enables the industry to continue contributing positively to economies and communities worldwide.”

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) estimates that the escalating conflict in Iran is already impacting the travel & tourism sector across the Middle East by at least US$600 million per day in international visitor spending, as disruptions to air travel, traveller confidence and regional connectivity affect demand. The Middle East plays a vital role in global travel with the region accounting for 5% of global international arrivals and 14% of global international transit traffic. Any disruption affects demand worldwide, which impacts airports and flights, hotels, car hire companies and cruise lines. The major regional aviation hubs including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha and Bahrain, which together normally process around 526,000 passengers per day, have experienced closures and operational disruption as the conflict escalates, significantly affecting regional and global connectivity. WTTC’s analysis is based on its 2026 pre-conflict forecast for the Middle East, which projected US$207 billion in international visitor spending across the region this year. Any disruption to travel flows therefore quickly translates into substantial economic impact across the tourism ecosystem. Despite the current challenges, WTTC emphasises that Travel & Tourism is one of the world’s most resilient economic sectors. WTTC research of previous crises shows that tourism demand following security-related incidents, with the right response, can recover in as little as two months when governments and industry act quickly to restore traveller confidence. Gloria Guevara, President & CEO of the World Travel & Tourism Council, said “Travel & Tourism is the most resilient of sectors. The impact of international visitor spending across the Middle East is significant and averages around US$600 million per day, but history shows that the sector can recover quickly, especially when governments support travellers through hotel support or repatriation. …

Bahrain, Morocco and Turkiye among15 destinations signalling intent to host WTTC Global Summit. The list includes Bahamas, Bahrain, Canada, Colombia, Greece, India, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, Puerto Rico, South Korea, Türkiye and the USA. The success of the WTTC 2025 Global Summit in Rome, Italy has created a surge in destinations competing to host future editions in the coming years. A record 15 destinations across four continents have formally expressed interest, signalling renewed confidence in the global Travel & Tourism sector. The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), which represents the private sector in the Travel & Tourism industry, hosts an industry-leading Global Summit each year, bringing together hundreds of chief executives, government ministers and investors to shape the future of one of the world’s fastest growing economic sectors. Malta is the host of the 2026 Global Summit, to be held in October. Gloria Guevara, President & CEO of WTTC, said “The level of interest we are seeing reflects the strength and resilience of Travel & Tourism worldwide. Hosting a WTTC Global Summit is a powerful statement of economic ambition. It brings global leaders together to shape policy, attract investment and drive sustainable long-term growth.” Over three days, leaders debate technology, talent, cross-border travel, sustainability, digital transformation, workforce development and long-term investment priorities. With global Travel & Tourism GDP forecast to grow by 6.7% in 2025 – creating one in four new jobs worldwide – destinations are increasingly seeking to align themselves with the sector’s economic resurgence. WTTC will now begin a competitive evaluation process, with the 2027 host destination to be announced at the Global Summit in Malta.

Oman Tourism Development Company (OMRAN Group)joined the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) as its official Sustainability Data. This strategic partnership was designed to strengthen global collaboration on sustainable tourism, leveraging data to shape policies, foster accountability, and accelerate positive impact across the sector. The partnership reinforced OMRAN Group’s commitment to advancing sustainability and driving data-driven decision-making within the global tourism industry. As part of this collaboration, OMRAN Group supported the launch of the Environmental & Social Impact Data Index at the WTTC Global Summit, which took place recently in Rome. The Global Summit, which gathered CEOs and decision-makers from the world’s leading travel and tourism organizations, served as the stage for the unveiling of this groundbreaking index — designed to measure, benchmark, and advance the sector’s impact on people and planet. In a highlight moment of the Summit, the CEO of OMRAN Group delivered a keynote speech entitled “Examples of Excellence,” showcasing the Group’s comprehensive human capital development strategy — #IAmTourism — ” as a pioneering model for empowering and developing human capital, aligning with the national objectives of Oman Vision 2040 and translating the pillars of the National Tourism Strategy into tangible outcomes. The CEO also reaffirmed that this partnership with WTTC represents a pivotal milestone in the Group’s journey to embed sustainability, ESG principles, and In-Country Value at the core of tourism development. By harnessing data-driven insights and fostering global collaboration, OMRAN Group has advanced the creation of destinations that empower communities, celebrate culture, and safeguard the environment. The launch of the Environmental & Social Impact Data Index marks a significant step toward greater transparency and accountability, ensuring that the tourism sector delivers meaningful and measurable economic, …

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) revealed a major vote of confidence in Italy’s Travel & Tourism sector, as its Members committed more than $8BN of new investment during the closing ceremony of the Global Summit in Rome. This landmark pledge, unveiled on stage before global leaders and industry executives, represents one of the largest ever investment commitments made at a WTTC Summit. The investment will supercharge Italy’s already thriving Travel & Tourism sector, strengthening its position as a world-leading destination and a magnet for sustainable growth.In 2025, Travel & Tourism is expected to inject $258BN to Italy’s economy and support 3.1MN jobs. Business travel has been a standout driver, with corporate visitors spending $30.8BN – an 18.1% increase on pre-pandemic levels. Italy also ranked as the seventh-highest business travel spender worldwide, while its booming MICE industry hosted almost 370,000 conferences and events in 2024, up 8.2% year-on-year. Against this backdrop of record performance, today’s $8BN commitment underlines the growing investor confidence in Italy’s infrastructure, hospitality, and wider travel ecosystem. These rising flows of capital are expected to boost connectivity and expand accommodation capacity, accelerate green and digital transitions across the sector, and create new opportunities for domestic and international investors alike. Gloria Guevara, WTTC Interim CEO, said: “Today’s announcement is a vote of confidence for Italy. More than $8BN of new investment from WTTC Members sends a powerful signal; Italy is not only a cultural icon but also one of the most exciting and resilient investment destinations in the world. These commitments will fuel job creation, sustainability, and innovation across the country’s Travel & Tourism sector.” WTTC Chair Manfredi Lefebvre added: “Today’s commitment reflects our unwavering belief in Italy’s potential as a leader in …

His Excellency Ahmed Al Khateeb, Minister of Tourism, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, shared “By 2035, one in three new jobs will come from Travel & Tourism – no other sector can claim that. Saudi Arabia shows what vision and investment can achieve, with over 649,000 training opportunities, and a workforce that is nearly 50% women.” The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) launched a landmark report, revealing that while the sector is on course to support one in three new jobs worldwide by 2035, demographic and structural shifts could create a workforce shortfall of more than 43MN people if left unaddressed. The report, Future of the Travel & Tourism Workforce, which focused on 20 economies, launched at the global tourism body’s 25th Global Summit in Rome and developed with the support of the Ministry of Tourism of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Coraggio Group, Miles Partnership, and Hong Kong Polytechnic University, is based on extensive global research, including a large-scale survey of business leaders and in-depth interviews with WTTC Members and other key stakeholders.    

The travel and tourism sector is set to play a pivotal role in driving the UAE’s economy in 2025, according to new research from the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC). The industry is expected to contribute AED 267.5 billion (USD 72.8 billion) to the national GDP, representing 12.9% of the economy — a robust recovery and continued growth beyond pre-pandemic levels. Employment in the sector is also on the rise, with tourism projected to support around 925,000 jobs next year, accounting for 12.9% of total employment. Looking ahead, the number of jobs supported by the industry is forecast to grow by 12.9% by 2035, underscoring its long-term economic significance. Domestic tourism remains a key growth driver, with UAE residents’ spending making up 21% of all visitor expenditure this year. Leisure travel dominates the market at nearly 85% of total spending, while business travel accounts for the remainder. These figures highlight the strategic importance of tourism to the UAE’s future, as the nation continues to attract international visitors, strengthen local travel demand, and build a resilient, high-performing tourism sector.

As the global Travel & Tourism sector is set for another record-breaking year, the eyes of the world are on Rome as the curtain is raised for the 2025 World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) Global Summit, the most important event in the Travel & Tourism calendar. The event opened today with an opening press conference at the architecturally impressive Auditorium Parco della Musica, featuring WTTC Interim CEO Gloria Guevara, WTTC Chair Greg O’Hara, WTTC Chair-Elect Manfredi Levebvfre, Italian Minister of Tourism Daniela Santanchè, President of Lazio Francesco Rocca, and Mayor of Rome Roberto Gualtieri. Across the next three days, more than one thousand delegates, including 310 CEOs and Chairs, will explore the opportunities and challenges shaping the future of Travel & Tourism. This year’s Summit programme will include sessions focusing on bolstering economic growth and job creation, to the power of Artificial intelligence and seamless travel. The event will also shine a light on investment opportunities in Italy, and trends such as wellness and sport tourism, luxury rail travel, and the benefits of hosting global mega events. WTTC will also be launching its latest new reports including Future of the Travel & Tourism Workforce, which highlights how governments, businesses, and educators can work together to prepare for the future, and its 2025 Environmental & Impact Research. The Summit will feature an extraordinary line-up of speakers, including Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who will deliver the keynote at tomorrow’s opening ceremony. Other high-profile voices include Italy’s Minister of Tourism, the Hon. Daniela Santanchè; Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Tourism, His Excellency, Ahmed Al-Khateeb; Deputy Malta Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Hon. Ian Borg; and the newly elected UN Tourism Secretary-General H.E. Shaikha …

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) convened its landmark Global Leaders’ Dialogue during its 25th WTTC Global Summit in Rome today, bringing together government ministers and global CEOs to tackle some of the sector’s most pressing challenges. The Dialogue opened with remarks from WTTC Interim CEO Gloria Guevara and the Italian Minister of Tourism, Daniela Santanchè, who underscored the importance of stronger public-private partnerships to safeguard the future of Travel & Tourism. A roundtable setting saw candid exchanges between public and private sector leaders sharing priorities, concerns, and solutions. Europe’s Lessons for the World The first session highlighted Europe’s enduring position as the world’s most visited region, with discussions focusing on how its blend of cultural heritage, infrastructure, and sustainability can inspire global best practice. According to WTTC’s latest Economic Impact Report, Europe’s Travel & Tourism sector is forecast to break new records in 2025 and contribute €2.6TN to the continent’s GDP in 2025, representing one in 10 euros. The sector is also projected to support 41.3MN jobs, one in 10 workers across Europe, setting another new record. During the high-level discussions, leaders addressed: Strategies to differentiate Europe amid growing competition from other regions Balancing how destinations can innovate while preserving authenticity and driving sustainability Lessons from navigating Europe’s multi-layered governance frameworks Speakers pointed to pioneering sustainability initiatives, innovative destination management strategies, and new product development as critical to Europe’s continued success in an increasingly crowded marketplace. Towards Seamless Travel The second session turned the spotlight to the global movement of people, focusing on how to remove barriers and deliver smoother journeys across borders. Discussions explored: The impact of visa policies, border management, and biometrics on travel flows Tailored approaches to improve …