WTTC Global Summit urges to nurture Travel & Tourism

Hainan , China : Governments and private sector companies must ensure the social and economic benefits of Travel & Tourism are spread across all destinations and communities across the world, says the President & CEO of the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC).

As the WTTC Global Summit in Hainan, China, starts (24-25 April 2014), David Scowsil of WTTC, the global authority on Travel & Tourism, has taken to the stage to urge the Industry and Governments to work together to make a positive difference.

“Travel & Tourism has a unique power to be a force for good in a problematic and unpredictable world. Governments need Travel & Tourism to support the processes of nation building and disaster recovery. They need Travel & Tourism to provide bridges to increase international cooperation and to help foster greater understanding between societies”.

However, Mr Scowsill says not all Governments take the economic and social benefits of the sector seriously yet; “Too many Governments around the world fail to acknowledge the vast potential of our industry. This leads to deficiencies like destructive border policies, exorbitant taxes and poor long-term infrastructure planning. All these prevent progress and growth. This needs to change”.

 WTTC’s 2014 Global Summit in Hainan, China, will explore ‘Changing world, new perspectives” and examine the role of the industry as a force for good in the world with headline contributions from Jeffrey Katzenberg, Yao Ming, economist Dame DeAnne Julius as well as many other industry leaders.

Public and private sector heads from outside and inside the industry and government ministers from all continents will attend the Summit to explore and challenge current received wisdoms and their relevance for the near future. They will define a new proposition that goes beyond the economic agenda, identifying how businesses can benefit from this new way of thinking.

The significance of Travel and Tourism as a ‘Force for Good’ has increasingly become recognised by some key world leaders. At last year’s WTTC Global Summit in Abu Dhabi, Bill Clinton said “I have seen that peace works better than conflict and one of the best manifestations of this is in travel and tourism”. This was echoed six months later at WTTC’s Asia Summit by former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair: “Travel & Tourism is an industry which can genuinely help to bring about not only more commerce and prosperity but more peace, security and understanding”.

As Mr Scowsill continues, the aim of the Summit will be to bring a greater understanding of the unique role which Travel and Tourism can play; “The Travel & Tourism sector helps to drive cultural understanding, mutual respect, diplomacy, economic development and peace-keeping. We are mindful of our responsibilities to protect the planet and its precious assets. We are proud to provide prosperity and jobs for millions. This is the power of Travel & Tourism and we need to harness that power to play our part in building a future that is sustainable and dependable”. – WTTC

April 25, 2014