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julia simpson

WTTC Calls on EU to Unlock Full Potential of Travel and Tourism

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Brussels, Belgium, February 21, 2024 / TRAVELINDEX / WTTC President & CEO launched Call to Action ahead of 2024 elections. In a decisive move to shape the future of the Travel & Tourism sector, the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) today issued a ‘Call to Action’, urging EU stakeholders to support a sector that employs over 22MN people and contributes €1.4TN to the European Union’s economy.

The Call to Action from the global tourism body highlights three key areas of focus to modernise and enhance the sector which would see it reach its potential of a €1.9TN contribution to the European Union’s economy by 2033.

WTTC forecasts that by 2033, the Travel & Tourism sector will reach this ground-breaking figure, equivalent to one in ten euros in the European Union’s economy.

The Economic Impact Research (EIR) from WTTC also forecast that the sector will support the creation of almost 4MN more new jobs by 2033, to reach 26.4MN – one in eight jobs across the EU.

A more sustainable future

WTTC is urging the EU to carry out policy impact assessments on the implementation of legislation on the sector, ensuring the transition to a green and sustainable future is achievable and works hand in hand with the sector to reach net zero emissions targets.

The Call to Action encourages EU leaders to consider the role and commitments already made by the Travel & Tourism sector, so that any future environmental legislation complements, rather than hinders, the work already being undertaken.

Supporting ease of travel across borders

WTTC is dedicated to supporting streamlined policies which facilitate smooth, hassle-free travel, stimulating growth and create more job opportunities. A critical component of this is simplifying visa processes.

The global tourism body is urging the EU to continue its drive toward visa-free travel and remove existing barriers. WTTC encourages the EU to rollout the already delayed Entry-Exit System to ensure a more seamless traveller experience.

Boosting the digitalisation of the sector

The digitalisation of the sector is vital and WTTC is urging the European Union to accelerate the adoption of cutting-edge technologies. This will increase efficiencies, reduce costs, and create opportunities for development and economic growth.

The EU should pursue policies that allow for contactless travel and support the innovative implementation of AI across the sector. WTTC will support the EU to enable the digitalisation of passports, streamlining of visa applications, and across the whole traveller journey.

Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, said “The Travel & Tourism sector is a key driver of economic growth in the EU and the measures within our Call to Action will ensure the sector continues to grow sustainably, attract new talent and prosper.

“We urge the EU to adopt these recommendations for the benefit of businesses and travellers globally. As the sector modernises and unlocks the digital transformation of travel, together with the European Union we can achieve unprecedented growth.”

These key areas, outlined at the onset of a new political era in Europe, are critical for the pragmatic policy implementation and support the sector desperately needs.

WTTC’s ‘Call to Action’ emphasises the opportunity for the EU’s Travel & Tourism sector to remain competitive, and achieve greater success, ensuring its continued growth and resilience, provided these actions are implemented.

Check out the ‘Call to Action for the Next European Political Cycle‘ here.

 

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First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

AI Set to Revolutionise Travel and Tourism, WTTC Report

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London, United Kingdom, February 2, 2024 / TRAVELINDEX / Major new reports from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) and Microsoft highlight the transformative power of AI (Artificial Intelligence) for Travel & Tourism, marking a commitment to a digital future with unparalleled customer experiences.

The first in a series of AI reports, announced during the global tourism body’s event at FITUR and in collaboration with WTTC’s Industry Partner, Microsoft, is poised to redefine Travel & Tourism standards and call on the sector for greater integration of such technologies.

As the global leader in Travel & Tourism, WTTC is committed to driving innovation and supporting the sector to embrace AI and other cutting-edge technologies. To promote sustainability and excellent customer experiences, WTTC acknowledges the crucial importance of AI in revolutionising the sector.

Throughout the traveller’s journey, WTTC believes AI can play a pivotal role in delivering a tailored and enhanced experience now and in the future.

This technology can empower personalised recommendations and marketing strategies by analysing traveller data, optimising pricing strategies through real-time adjustments, and offering instant responses and fine-tuned interactions via sophisticated AI powered chatbots.

The report also highlights AI’s capabilities extend to predicting future demand patterns, efficiently allocating resources, and providing valuable insights for governments and Travel & Tourism stakeholders.

This contribution can be pivotal in promoting sustainability with efficient resource management by monitoring and minimising environmental impacts, ensuring a more responsible and sustainable sector.

Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, said: “As we navigate the ever-evolving landscape of Travel & Tourism, AI emerges as a catalyst for positive change.

“The transformative capabilities highlighted in this report demonstrate that AI is not just a technological advancement, it is a strategic tool that can personalise the customer experience, drive sustainable improvements, and create real time pricing models.”

Julie Shainock, Microsoft Managing Director Travel, Transport & Logistics, said: “Using Microsoft’s Azure OpenAI Models across the travel sector allows greater productivity for companies and drive a more personalised consumer experience.

“For travellers, the ability to drive more inspiration and personalized offers at booking to providing tools to consumers to proactively assist them while in destination to anticipate their needs with relevant information to improve their journey. For travel companies, GenAI is there to increase productivity, automate the predictable, and allow our human centric approach to the high value moments in travel to shine more.”

Despite the increasing examples of AI applications in Travel & Tourism, the report reveals the sector lags other consumer-facing industries in AI adoption. AI’s surge across various sector’s last year is now a relevant force, and the Travel & Tourism sector must act now to leverage its impact.

Challenges that must be overcome by Travel & Tourism businesses include a shortage of AI-skilled workers, limited AI infrastructure, and the absence of a formal ‘AI strategy’ in many business plans.

Travel & Tourism businesses are urged to embrace AI as a strategic priority, investing heavily in talent to foster collaboration between humans and AI.

Amidst concerns about AI’s impact on jobs, the report addresses the potential for job creation, recognising that although AI will be disruptive, it will in turn generate new opportunities.

In the quest for sustainable AI practices within the Travel & Tourism sector, responsible data management emerges as a crucial strategy.

Implementing measures such as data minimisation, efficient storage, and responsible data disposal, becomes pivotal for organisations seeking to minimise their carbon emissions when using new digital technologies, and reduce their AI environmental footprint significantly.

The report explores AI applications in society and business, emphasising the need for safe and responsible AI system design in Travel & Tourism, signifying a milestone in the sector’s commitment to innovation and sustainability, and showcasing AI’s potential to shape a bright future for Travel & Tourism.

 

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First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

WTTC Joins Biosphere to Standardise International Hotel Sustainability

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Madrid, Spain, January 26, 2024 / TRAVELINDEX / More than 2,500 hotels will benefit from this collaboration. The partnership aims to support common core principles in hotel sustainability, driving accommodation towards sustainable alignment. In a joint effort to promote sustainability in the Travel & Tourism sector, the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) and Biosphere have inked a partnership to promote sustainability criteria in the hotel industry under the Hotel Sustainability Basics initiative.

In the current landscape of globalisation and information saturation, where sustainability holds paramount importance, the proliferation of new standards and eco-labels poses a significant challenge for the sector. Identifying clear and consistent sustainability criteria has become increasingly difficult.

Biosphere and WTTC have joined forces and solidified their commitment to fostering a more sustainable hotel industry to establish fundamental steps for global sustainability practices,

This marks a significant milestone for global hotel sustainability, benefiting over 2,500 hotels.

As partners of the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance (SHA), both organisations are optimistic that standardising their sustainability concepts will undoubtedly catalyse widespread adoption by hotels worldwide.

Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, said: “Hotel Basics is a crucial and inclusive industry initiative, ensuring hotels continue to adapt and evolve to meet the needs of both travellers and the planet.

“The collaboration between Biosphere and WTTC is a fundamental step towards international standardisation in sustainability, creating a clear and homogeneous pathway for the industry.”

The recent signed agreement between WTTC and Biosphere will lay the groundwork for a network of international criteria homogenisation.

This initiative aims to facilitate the industry’s transition from basic criteria to more advanced global standards, aligning with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 169 goals of the United Nations. This connection is made possible through the Guide for Sustainable Tourism of UN-SDSN Spain and Biosphere.

Dr. Tomás de Azcárate Bang, President of the Responsible Tourism Institute, said: “Sustainability must be viable, understandable and achievable. This requires consensus and harmonisation of concepts, steps, and measures, which this agreement seeks to accomplish.

“The harmonisation of languages and processes will establish a more stable and defined international framework for all stakeholders aligning with sustainability models.

“This partnership signifies a milestone for the industry. By synching our approaches, we are paving the way for a rock-solid international playbook, inviting all players worldwide to align with sustainability models”.

This collaboration will result in the integration of the WTTC’s Hotel Sustainability Basics verification and the Biosphere methodology, creating the most comprehensive international framework for the sector, with a unified vision connected to the Sustainable Development Goals.

Hotel Sustainability Basics emerged as a result of a clear demand from a significant group of global hotel brands to develop fundamental sustainability criteria that all accommodation providers must meet as a minimum, designed for the industry, by the industry.

Hotels, guest houses and tourist residences will be able to adopt the 12 criteria of the initiative, focusing primarily on the following main lines of action:

1. Measuring and reducing energy and water consumption, as well as reducing waste and carbon emissions
2. Fundamental actions to protect the environment.
3. Fundamental actions towards a positive contribution to the communities in which they are located.

 

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First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

WTTC Hotel Sustainability Basics for a Sustainable 2024

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London, United Kingdom, January 8, 2024 / TRAVELINDEX / The World Travel & Tourism Council’s (WTTC) Hotel Sustainability Basics is set to end if first year on a high with more than 1,300 hotels verified, across more than 30 countries from around the world.

The Hotel Sustainability Basics is an independent global sustainability verification programme, overseen by internationally recognised verifiers, Green Key and SGS.

The aim is for hotels around the world, regardless of their size, to follow a 12 step programme to reduce carbon emissions, protect and promote nature, and ensure local communities benefit from the hotel.

It is achievable for all hotels to implement as a bare minimum, and crucially, they serve as a stepping-stone to more complex sustainability schemes.

In its first year, Hotel Sustainability Basics has been endorsed by destinations around the world such as the Caribbean, Mauritius, Colombia, Abu Dhabi, Azerbaijan, Mexico, and Ecuador.

The ‘Basics’ has also been adopted by a number of major hotel brands around the world such as Jin Jiang, the world’s second biggest hotel group with more than 10,000 hotels, European hotel giant Louvre Hotel Group, and Radisson Hotel Group.

Other major brands which have signed up Hotel Sustainability Basics include adventure travel specialist Intrepid, British Airways Holidays, HBX Group, WebBeds, Biosphere, and Abercrombie & Kent.

Together, this underscores a global commitment to sustainable Travel & Tourism from across the hospitality industry, and the global tourism body expects thousands more hotels from all four corners of the globe will adopt Hotel Sustainability Basics next year.

Significantly, the recently announced partnership between WTTC, the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance (SHA) and the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) has cemented a clear pathway in the hospitality sustainability journey.

This collaboration will establish a structured framework from the Basics towards advanced global standards for hotel sustainability.

Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, said “Basics is a global programme to support hotels to cut emissions, support local communities and protect nature. Launched last year, it is the only independent scheme that gives hotels a helping hand to look at their environmental impact. The take up of Basics is going from strength to strength with whole countries committed to make real, lasting change.

“As we look to the future, our focus remains on strengthening these efforts, ensuring that every step we take brings us closer to a unified vision of sustainability in hospitality. Hotel Sustainability Basics has gone from strength to strength in its first year and we’re expecting thousands more properties to adopt the initiative throughout 2024.”

Satu Rouhiainen, Sustainability Manager, British Airways Holidays said: “Working closely together with our industry and value chain partners is paramount to British Airways Holidays. We are delighted to be supporting the Hotel Sustainability Basics, offering our hotel partners a fair and industry recognised criteria to start their sustainability journey.

“Not only does it give us visibility of the hotels’ progress, but it also provides our customers a way to search for hotels that are committed to progressing in sustainability.”

WTTC is committed to leading the charge in sustainable Travel & Tourism. Continuously fostering collaborations and setting new sustainability, the global tourism body global is committed to ensuring a prosperous, inclusive, and sustainable future for the Travel & Tourism sector.

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First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

GSTC Partners with WTTC to Strengthen Global Hospitality Standards

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GSTC Partners with WTTC to Strengthen Global Hospitality Standards - TRAVELINDEXLondon, United Kingdom, October 20, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) and The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) announce a major new partnership, aligning to establish a structured framework for hotel sustainability, leading to GSTC Certification.

The partnership endorses the existing WTTC Hotel Sustainability Basics whilst paving the way for a stepped progression toward GSTC Certification* for sustainable hotels.

In an era where sustainability is paramount, GSTC and WTTC are joining forces to send a potent message to the market regarding the coherence and collaboration in the Travel & Tourism sector.

The three-stage framework for hotel sustainability will now see the integration between the WTTC Hotel Sustainability Basics verification and GSTC Certification*, designed to support hotels in their pathway towards full sustainability. Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO

Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, said: “Collaborating with an esteemed body like GSTC reinforces our dedication to leading the industry towards a more sustainable future. It’s imperative that we work with key global players like GSTC to drive change, set benchmarks, and inspire others to follow.

With members spanning across the world, GSTC’s rigorous accreditation program not only elevates our initiative but also ensures that the hospitality sector worldwide moves toward a unified vision of sustainability.”

Randy Durband, CEO of GSTC, added, “WTTC Hotel Sustainability Basics is a finely crafted entry level for hotels of any size and type to begin their journey to sustainable practices. GSTC’s certification by GSTC-Accredited Certification Bodies is recognised widely as the gold standard in certification of sustainable hotels, with the highest levels of assurance that exists.

Today’s announcement of the combined pathway provides clarity for beginning and for continuous improvement. Stages must be just that, stages, and not levels to reach and stay in place.” Randy Durband, GSTC CEO

The WTTC Hotel Sustainability Basics are already accessible to the industry, and the next phase in collaboration with GSTC is scheduled to launch in 2024.

This will provide the crucial stepping stone between WTTC Hotel Sustainability Basics, a three-year programme, and GSTC’s rigorous certification, ensuring a gradual yet comprehensive progression towards sustainability in hospitality.

About the GSTC
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council® (GSTC®) establishes and manages global sustainable standards, known as the GSTC Criteria. There are two sets: Destination Criteria for public policy-makers and destination managers, and Industry Criteria for hotels and tour operators. These are the guiding principles and minimum requirements that any tourism business or destination should aspire to reach in order to protect and sustain the world’s natural and cultural resources, while ensuring tourism meets its potential as a tool for conservation and poverty alleviation.

The GSTC Criteria form the foundation for Accreditation of Certification Bodies that certify hotels/accommodations, tour operators, and destinations as having sustainable policies and practices in place. GSTC does not directly certify any products or services; but it accredits those that do. The GSTC is an independent and neutral USA-registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization that represents a diverse and global membership, including national and provincial governments, leading travel companies, hotels, tour operators, NGO’s, individuals and communities – all striving to achieve best practices in sustainable tourism.

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First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

WTTC Global Summit: Building Bridges to a Sustainable Future

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WTTC Global Summit Building Bridges to a Sustainable Future - TRAVELINDEXKigali, Rwanda, October 6, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / In a milestone event that promises to reshape the contours of the global Travel & Tourism sector, the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) today unveils the bold theme and agenda for WTTC’s 23rd Global Summit taking place in Kigali, Rwanda: “Building Bridges to a Sustainable Future”.

This year’s eagerly awaited Global Summit, set to unfold from the 1 – 3 November 2023, takes place in Africa for the first time, recognising the phenomenal growth the Travel & Tourism sector across the continent has witnessed in recent years.

Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, said: “This Global Summit is a rallying cry for leaders, innovators, and change-makers from all corners of the globe to come together and craft a new vision for the sector.

“It’s an unparalleled opportunity to be at the forefront of shaping a sector that is not only resilient but is also committed to the principles of sustainability and inclusivity.

“Rwanda is the perfect venue for our Global Summit, as the sector embarks on a significant new chapter. Africa has the world’s youngest population and by 2033, $1 in every $13 created in Africa, will come from Travel & Tourism and 1 in 17 jobs will be in the sector. This demonstrates the huge potential the continent’s sector has for new jobs and new economic growth for young people across Africa.”

Co-hosted by the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), the annual event is the most influential on the Travel and Tourism calendar that brings together thousands of industry leaders and experts and key government representatives to continue aligning efforts to support the sector’s growth and move beyond to a safer, more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable future.

With sessions on resilience and sustainable growth, the growing impact of AI and understanding new and emerging markets, the Global Summit is set to cover the key challenges and opportunities facing the sector.

Francis Gatare, CEO of the Rwanda Development Board, said: “We are proud to host the first ever WTTC Global Summit in Africa. While this important gathering will take place in Rwanda, it is for the whole continent. Africa has some of the most spectacular tourism properties and experiences in the world, and the sector plays a significant role in the continent’s continued economic development by creating millions of jobs.

“This year’s WTTC Global Summit will provide a great platform to build bridges across the tourism and travel ecosystem, and co-design a sustainable future for the sector to achieve its full potential.”

African Travel & Tourism Sector’s Potential

The latest Economic Impact Research from the global tourism body reveals a staggering ten year forecast for Africa’s Travel & Tourism sector. In 2033, WTTC predicts that the Travel & Tourism sector will contribute more than $300BN to Africa’s economy and jobs in the sector will grow significantly, reaching more than 36MN in total.

In Rwanda, WTTC is forecasting that by 2033 the Travel & Tourism sector will contribute more than $2.1BN to the national economy and will support almost 568,000 jobs. This is testament to Rwanda’s commitment to sustainable tourism, diversifying the experiences it offers, and promoting awareness of its rich biodiversity, culture and heritage, and art.

Rwanda aims to double its tourism revenues from $445MN earned last year, to more than $800MN, in its ongoing seven-year National Strategy for Transformation and become one of the world’s leading luxury ecotourism destinations.

The 2023 WTTC Global Summit seeks to be the catalyst for this change, offering a platform where vibrant ideas meet opportunity, and where the future of Travel & Tourism will be redrawn and redefined.

For more details about the summit and how to participate, please visit the wttc.org

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First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Presenting Global Retail Tourism: Trends and Insights

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Presenting Global Retail Tourism Trends and Insights - TRAVELINDEXBarcelona, Spain, September 18, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / A thought leadership event exploring the significant untapped potential of retail tourism took place at La Roca Village, part of The Bicester Collection, in Barcelona today, concluding with a resounding call for attention to the importance of retail tourism. The event featured the launch of a ground-breaking report, “Global Retail Tourism: Trends and Insights”, a collaborative effort between the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), The Bicester Collection and Hong Kong Polytechnic University. With a strong focus on data and insights, the report seeks to define the future of retail tourism, highlighting the key trends, challenges, and opportunities shaping the sector.

The event featured a series of conversations, highlighting key voices across multiple business sectors. Moderated by international news anchor Maria Ramos, the panel speakers included:

• Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO
• Desirée Bollier, The Bicester Collection Chair and Global Chief Merchant
• Professor Haiyan Song, School of Hotel and Tourism Management at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Director of Hospitality and Tourism Research Center
• Maribel Rodriguez, WTTC Senior Vice President Membership, Commercial, & Events
• Miguel Sanz, Tourespaña General Director
• Elena Foguet, The Bicester Collection Business Director Spain
• Jeni Mundy, VISA Global Senior Vice President Merchant Sales & Acquiring
• Anne Madison, Cruise Line Industry Association (CLIA) Senior Vice President Global Marketing & Strategic Communications
• Nikolina Angelkova, Terra Way Investment Group Member of the Board

Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, said:

“In the world of Travel & Tourism, retail tourism’s significance cannot be overstated. Accounting for over $178 billion of global GDP in 2019, it’s time to recognize its true potential.

Our report reveals that retail tourism is not just about shopping; it’s about revenue, job creation, and influencing travellers’ choices. I urge stakeholders worldwide to read, reflect, and act upon this report’s findings. We now have a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and opportunities in retail tourism. It’s our collective responsibility to embrace these opportunities, shape the industry’s future, and embark on an exciting journey.”

Desirée Bollier, Chair and Global Chief Merchant, The Bicester Collection commented: “Retail Tourism plays a crucial role in infusing a vibrant economic upswing into local communities, accelerating the creation of jobs and fuelling infrastructure expansion. Retail, travel, and tourism are all intertwined and must work together to enhance the tourist’s journey. This collaborative mindset will ultimately be an equal win for the tourism industry and the traveller.”

For more information and to access the Retail Tourism report, please visit the WTTC Research Hub website

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First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

WTTC Predicts Germany Tourism Sector to Rebound Fast

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WTTC Predicts Germany Tourism Sector to Rebound Fast - TRAVELINDEX - GLOBALTOURISMFORUM.comBerlin, Germany, August 17, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / The World Travel & Tourism Council’s (WTTC) 2023 Economic Impact Research (EIR) today reveals Germany’s Travel & Tourism sector is recovering at pace to recover to within 95% of pre-pandemic levels.

The sector is set to contribute €355BN to the national economy this year, getting to within 95% of the 2019 highpoint, and representing 9.3% of the economy. WTTC is also forecasting that the sector will create more than 168,000 jobs this year, recovering most of the jobs lost due to the COVID 19 pandemic to reach 5.6MN.

A look back on last year

Last year, the Travel & Tourism sector’s GDP contribution grew by 43.4% to reach more than €338BN, representing 8.8% of the economy, edging closer to the 2019 high of €374BN.

Last year the sector also created 550,000 more jobs from the previous year to reach 5.4MN jobs nationally – one in eight jobs across Germany.
The sector has now recovered over 50% of the 1MN jobs lost during the pandemic.

Last year also saw the return of international travellers heading to Germany with spending from overseas visitors growing 61% to reach almost €31BN.

Domestic visitor spend is within touching distance of the pre-pandemic level of €307.8BN and is currently €304.4BN, a year-on-year increase of 49%.

Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, said: “The Travel & Tourism sector in Germany is making a strong recovery. It will contribute €355BN to the German economy this year and employ one in eight jobs across the country.

“Germany is forecast to remain the fifth most popular tourism destination in Europe over the next decade, demonstrating its enduring appeal.”

What does the next decade look like?

The global tourism body is forecasting that the sector will grow its GDP contribution to more than €440BN by 2033, 10.3% of the overall economy and will employ almost 6.1MN people across the country, with one in seven Germans working in the sector.

Europe

In 2022, the European Travel & Tourism sector contributed €1.9TN to the regional economy, just 7% below the 2019 peak. WTTC forecasts the region’s GDP contribution from the sector will reach more than €2TN in 2023 – within touching distance of the 2019 highpoint.

The sector employed almost 35MN people across the region in 2022, an increase of 2.9MN from the previous year but still 3.2MN behind pre-pandemic levels. WTTC forecasts the sector will fully recover the jobs lost during the pandemic by the end of 2024.

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First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Women’s Participation in Tourism Critical to Growth of Global Sector

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Women's Participation in Tourism Critical to Growth of Global Sector - TRAVELINDEX - WOMENDELIVER - WTTC - WORLD TRAVEL AND TOURISM COUNCILKigali, Rwanda, July 24, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / Public-private collaboration ensure women receive training, networks and finance needed to build secure careers. The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) reiterated the importance of women’s engagement in Travel & Tourism to catapult its growth and achieve a thriving and resilient sector at the Women Deliver Global Conference, in Kigali, Rwanda.

Speaking at the conference, Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, emphasised the importance of promoting women’s involvement in the sector and overcoming challenges for success in the business world.

The event served as a platform to address the challenges faced by women in the Travel & Tourism sector and explore strategies to overcome them, aiming to inspire change and promote equal opportunities for women in the sector.

The panel discussions shed light on the challenges faced by women in various aspects of the business, including barriers to entry, operational obstacles, and ecosystem limitations.

The event underscored the vital role of mentorship in empowering young women and girls in business. Through networking, opportunities, and resources, mentorship programs unlock their potential for economic transformation.

During her address, Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, said: “It is proven that companies that have 50% women in their leadership make more money. This makes even more sense in travel and tourism where women make the buying decisions on where to go on holiday.

‘It also makes good sense to employ women in senior roles; why would you exclude access to 50% of global talent.

“Rwanda has a great track record with a majority of women MPs in the Parliament. President Kagame addressed the Women Deliver, for the first time held in Africa, with real passion and a track record of gender equality.

“Putting women centre stage in Travel & Tourism will ensure a better future for the sector and the global economy. Currently, more than half of the sector is made up of women.

“By addressing the barriers and inequalities they face, we can unlock immense potential and drive sustainable growth.

“The ‘Women Deliver’ event serves as a catalyst for change, bringing together sector leaders, policymakers, and advocates to work collectively towards a more diverse and prosperous future.”

According to the global tourism body, women constitute approximately 54% of the workforce. Travel & Tourism provides accessible opportunities for women, but it also faces disparities such as lower pay and job security.

These disparities were reflected in the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact, where a majority of the 62 million jobs lost in the travel and tourism sector were women’s jobs.

WTTC urges both the public and private sectors to play their part in promoting women’s participation in the Travel & Tourism sector. It says governments should adopt policies that promote women in senior management, such as mandatory quotas for publicly listed companies and state-owned enterprises.

The private sector should offer targeted professional development programs for women and create networking and mentoring opportunities.

WTTC remains committed to advocating for gender equality, working closely with its members, governments, and industry partners to foster an environment where women have equal opportunities to excel, lead, and shape the future of the travel and tourism sector.

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First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

WTTC Urges Governments to Support Sustainable Cruise Shipping for Net-Zero Emissions

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WTTC Urges Governments to Support Sustainable Cruise Shipping for Net-Zero Emissions - TRAVELINDEX - JULIA SIMPSONLondon, United Kingdom, July 14, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / WTTC welcomes the UN IMO’s ambitious plan to achieve net-zero emissions from international shipping by 2050, a crucial milestone for the cruise industry and our planet.

We urge governments to actively support sustainable marine fuels, shoreside power, and other net-zero technologies in all shipping sectors. Collaboration between governments and the industry is vital to achieve net-zero emissions.

Sustainable growth in Travel & Tourism, including aviation, rail, and cruise liners, remains a key objective for the sector worldwide.

Julia Simpson
WTTC President & CEO

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First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News