WTTC Plan to Revive International Travel

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) is spearheading a major global drive to revive international travel with the public and private sector working together in partnership.

G20 tourism ministers recently hosted more than 45 CEOs and members of WTTC, who at the request of Saudi Arabia, presented their Jobs Recovery Plan to save the besieged Travel and Tourism sector and 100 million jobs globally.

The WTTC Jobs Recovery Plan could save 65 million jobs across all G20 countries, including Spain. Regionally, Asia Pacific could save the most, with 45.8 million jobs, followed by the Americas with 20.2 million and Europe with 19.9 million.

In the U.S alone, 8 million travel and tourism jobs could be saved under the WTTC plan.

During the historic G20 Tourism Ministers session, WTTC and its members presented their plan to save the embattled travel and tourism sector and explored key initiatives to deliver the prompt recovery of the sector and save millions of lost jobs.

Now it plans to establish a structure to deliver on these goals, led by a global steering committee, comprised of 12 WTTC Member CEOs and other business and institutional leaders to establish an international consensus to take action.

The priorities and recommendations made by the steering committee, will be passed onto functional working groups for action and delivery.

These specialized working groups will address how to open up travel by creating crucial ‘air corridors’ and a globally recognized standard for an airport test and trace regime, amongst other initatives.

In addition, a government affairs working group will liaise with individual governments to ensure they have all the relevant data and information needed to support our efforts.

“WTTC is uniquely positioned to provide a platform at the highest level where the private and public sector can work together to help revive international business and leisure travel and save 100 million jobs globally and eight million in the U.S alone,” said Gloria Guevara, WTTC President & CEO. “What came out of the historic G20 meeting with international business leaders was a clear consensus that only cooperation at the highest level and engagement with the public and private sector will achieve action.”

It was stressed that ‘air corridors’ must be restored between the world’s leading financial hubs, such as the transatlantic route between London and New York. “Restoring these routes for international business travelers must be coupled with the agreement and adoption of globally recognized standards for a rapid, cost effective airport test and trace regime,” said Guevara.

“Together these will help create a safe and hygienic environment to travel and aid the beleaguered travel and tourism sector which continues its fight for survival. This in turn will act as an engine to help kickstart the economic global recovery to benefit the whole travel and tourism sector and millions of jobs throughout the supply chain which are dependent upon international travel.”

She said this plan could save 100 million jobs through strong international cooperation, removing travel barriers and introducing an international testing protocol at airports to minimize the spread of COVID-19.

“While I am encouraged by the unity and strength of purpose shown by the private and public sector at the recent G20 Tourism Ministers Meeting, there is so much at stake that we must redouble our collective efforts to save the sector together,” Guevara added.

WTTC will continue working with major industry bodies and global organizations, including International Air Transport Association (IATA), International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), Airport Council International (ACI), World Economic Forum (WEF), International Chamber of Commerce (ICC).

WTTC has been at the forefront of leading the private sector in the drive to rebuild international travel. For more information, go to wttc.org.

For a look at the WTTC COVID-19 recovery dashboard, click here. Stories about future travel can be accessed at #AmazingDaysAhead.