Strategic perspectives on travel and tourism's future were shared during WTTC's Global Leaders' Discussion
World Travel & Tourism Council's Global Leaders' Dialogue Emphasizes Sustainable Growth
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) concluded its annual Global Leaders' Dialogue (GLD) in Perth, Western Australia, with a focus on fostering long-term sustainable growth in the global Travel & Tourism sector.
The event, which brought together high-ranking government ministers and representatives, and top executives from the private sector, emphasized the need for smarter tourism management, balanced growth, and collaborative action among all stakeholders.
Participants from the private sector included organizations such as Certares, Arsenale SPA, Cruise Saudi, Indian Hotels Company, JP Morgan Chase, JTB, MegaWorld Hotels and Resorts, MMGY, Radisson Hotel Group, VFS Global, and others. Notable government figures in attendance were Sultan Mohammed Al Musallam, Deputy Minister of Tourism for International Affairs, Ministry of Tourism of the Kingdom Saudi Arabia, and The Hon. Chester Cooper, Deputy Prime Minister of The Bahamas and Minister of Tourism, Investments & Aviation.
The session spotlighted specific areas where both sectors can invest to realise the full potential of Travel & Tourism. These included technology integration, sustainable practices, and infrastructure development. Infrastructure development was identified as a focus for investment in the Travel & Tourism sector.
WTTC highlighted the need for addressing tourism overcrowding through smarter management, targeting deeper causes such as infrastructure underinvestment, poor planning, and fragmented decision-making. They also proposed implementing six practical actions designed to enable destinations to grow sustainably while protecting jobs, communities, and the environment.
The strategies discussed at the GLD also emphasized the importance of encouraging joined-up solutions that support both residents and visitors, recognizing Travel & Tourism’s significant role in global GDP (nearly $11 trillion in 2024) and employment (supporting one in ten jobs globally and expected to support one in three new jobs over the next decade).
The GLD concluded with a commitment from all participants to continue working together towards implementing the strategies discussed. The event also featured significant representation from Australia, with Western Australia's Deputy Premier and Tourism Minister, Hon. Rita Saffioti MLA, present. Ion Vilcu, UN Tourism, was among the attendees at the event.
WTTC’s strategies reflect the broader agenda they advance globally, including forums such as the Global Leaders’ Dialogue, to advocate sustainable, inclusive, and strategic sector development. Supporting efforts in Australia, such as local and national dialogues by organizations like the Australian Tourism Industry Council (ATIA) and Tourism Australia, focus on community engagement, data-driven insights, and workforce development to complement the WTTC’s sustainability agenda.
In conclusion, the WTTC's Global Leaders' Dialogue in Perth underscored the importance of sustainable growth in the Travel & Tourism sector. The event highlighted the need for collaborative action among governments, local leaders, and businesses to ensure the economic benefits of tourism are not undermined by uncontrolled growth and pressures on local communities.
- The strategies discussed at the Global Leaders' Dialogue emphasized the crucial role of technology integration in the sustainable growth of the Travel & Tourism sector.
- To realize the full potential of Travel & Tourism, sessions at the event focused on identifying areas where technology and sustainable practices can be combined for infrastructure development.
