Tag Archives: WTTC

WTTC has unveiled the second phase of measures to rebuild global consumer confidence to encourage the return of travelling. The latest protocols are designed to enable sectors such as tour operators and convention centres, meetings and events to thrive once again. The extended measures follow the ‘Safe Travels’ guidelines that were launched by WTTC on May 12. Detailed discussions took place with key stakeholders and organisations to ensure maximum buy-in, alignment and practical implementation, to set clear expectations of what travellers may experience in the ‘new normal’. Those relating to airports and airlines have been devised following close consultation with WTTC Members IATA and Airports Council International (ACI), to rebuild trust and provide reassurance that airports and airlines will offer safe environments in which to fly once travel restrictions are relaxed.

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has launched the world’s first-ever global safety and hygiene stamp which allow travellers to recognise governments and businesses around the world which have adopted health and hygiene global standardised protocols – so consumers can experience ‘Safe Travels’. The initiative also received the backing of UNWTO. Eligible businesses such as hotels, restaurants, airlines, cruise lines, tour operators, restaurants, outdoor shopping, transportation and airports, will be able to use the stamp once the health and hygiene protocols, outlined by WTTC, have been implemented. Destinations will also help to award the stamp of approval to local suppliers. The launch of global protocols to boost the Travel & Tourism sector have been embraced by over 200 CEO’s including some of the world’s major tourism groups. Gloria Guevara, WTTC President & CEO, said: “We are delighted that UNWTO are supporting the private sector global protocols and our efforts as public-private collaboration is critical to ensure a faster recovery. We have learned from past crises that global standard protocols and consistency provide confidence for the traveller. Our new global safety stamp is designed to help rebuild consumer confidence worldwide,” she said. “Now travelers will be able to recognise the businesses and destinations worldwide which have adopted the new set of global protocols that will encourage the return of ‘Safe Travels’ around the world. It will, in turn, help the Travel & Tourism sector to reopen for business and move in a coordinated approach. “For the first time ever, the global private sector has rallied around Safe Travels protocols which will create consistency across the sector. Implementation by governments around the world will restore much-needed confidence in order to restart …

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has outlined what the ‘new normal’ will look like as countries begin to end their COVID-19 lockdowns and ease travel restrictions. As travel gradually returns to normal over the coming months, WTTC predicts that the first to return will be domestic markets with staycations, then to a country’s nearest neighbours before expanding across regions, and then finally across continents to welcome the return of journeys to long-haul international destinations. WTTC also believes that younger travellers in the 18-35 age group, who appear to be less vulnerable to COVID-19, may also be among the first to begin travelling once again. The tourism council also informs that new protocols and standards are being defined following feedback and multiple conversations with WTTC members, as well as collaboration from associations who represent the different travel sectors.

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has launched a new marketing campaign, #TogetherInTravel, aimed at galvanizing the global travel and tourism community and showing how the sector is a vital part of our zest for life. The campaign, which went live on April 20, encourages travellers from around the world to share the hashtag #TogetherInTravel along with a video simultaneously uniting everyone in solidarity at the same moment. The marketing campaign comprises three key elements; a highly visual and emotive video; a hashtag, #TogetherInTravel, to stimulate the conversation across social platforms and a microsite, TogetherInTravel.com, to host the video and user generated content and stories. WTTC has developed the campaign in conjunction with one of its members. Gloria Guevara, President & CEO, WTTC, says, “Dreaming is part of our zest for life and our new campaign encourages thoughts of the brighter days ahead. Travel & Tourism is a critical sector to the global economy, accounting for one in four of all new jobs worldwide and contributing 10.3% to GDP. Our sector touches everyone. It builds communities, reduces poverty in the world and improves the social impact of everyday lives. Yet, we are uniquely exposed at this time due to COVID-19. The concept for the #TogetherInTravel campaign was born out of a desire to rally everyone who is passionate about travel, to unify those who are working hard to rebuild the sector and to spread a message of solidarity that we are one global community and one where travel brings us closer, at the right time. Our message is that everyone can still stay inspired with future travel ideas and bookings – and in the meantime be part of a virtual …

World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), in its annual Economic Impact Report (EIR), shows how big a part travel and tourism played in driving the economy in the region last year, based on which the findings reveal how vital the sector will be for the region’s economic recovery from COVID-19. It shows the sector supporting one in 10 (330 million) jobs, making a 10.3% contribution to global GDP and generating one in four of all new jobs. Gloria Guevara, President & CEO, WTTC, says, “WTTC’s 2019 Economic Impact Report (EIR) shows how intrinsic Travel & Tourism was last year to the economy in Asia-Pacific, making it the fastest growing region in the world in terms of its contribution to GDP, supporting more than 182 million jobs or 9.6% of the total number of people employed.”

The India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF), in its latest report titled ‘Tourism and Hospitality’ has ranked India as eighth in the world in 2017 in terms of absolute direct contribution of travel and tourism to its GDP. The tourism and hospitality sector’s direct contribution to GDP in 2017, was Rs 5.94 trillion (US$91.27billion). This is expected to reach Rs 12.68 trillion (US$194.69billion) in 2028, implying a CAGR of 7.23 percent during 2012-28. According to 2018 report of the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), India was ranked third in the tourism sector. India generated revenue of about US$247 billion in 2018

WTTC forecasts the total contribution of Travel and Tourism to India’s GDP will more than double from USD234 billion in 2017 to USD492.2 billion in 2028. Besides the direct contribution of travel and tourism to national GDP, the sector’s induced contribution increased 6.6 per cent per annum between 2012 and 2017, while indirect contribution grew at 7.5 per cent during the period, CAPA India’s Inbound Tourism Report reveals. The sector can support job opportunities in rural opportunities in rural communities — where they are needed the most, especially in developing countries like India. Additionally, for developing economies, travel services were consistently the lead contributer towards service exports between 2006 to 2016.

The female share of employment in tourism in India accounts for 12.1 per cent, according to a latest report by World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) titled ‘Travel & Tourism: Driving Women’s Success.’ There could be an 11 per cent increase in global GDP if every country achieved the fastest rate of progress in its region on closing the three key gender gaps of workforce participation, the report states. Travel and tourism can provide women with more opportunities for workforce participation, leadership, entrepreneurship and empowerment than many other sectors, particularly in developing countries and as such it can have a tremendous effect on poverty reduction in rural communities. At the macro level, a stronger representation of women in travel and tourism relative to other areas of economy is due to the sector’s unique characteristics: often less emphasis on formal education and training, greater emphasis on personal and hospitality skills, flexible working opportunities, and increased options for entrepreneurship that do not require heavy start-up financing. While there are wide variations in gender equality by region, socio-economic class, ethnicity and age, women’s labour force participation rates are gradually approaching those of men in many developed countries, supported by public policies including family support, rights to paid leave, and affordable childcare services for working mothers. Women also have some of the highest rates of participation in developing countries, reflecting economic necessity.

A recent report by World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) suggests that total contribution of tourism to global GDP will grow to USD 12,450.1 billion (11.7% of GDP) by 2028. Further, according to the report, total employment contribution of tourism sector accounts for 9.9 per cent of global employment in 2017, supporting twice as many jobs as financial sector. Travel & Tourism investmentA recent report by World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) suggests that total contribution of tourism to global GDP will grow to USD 12,450.1 billion (11.7% of GDP) by 2028. Further, according to the report, total employment contribution of tourism sector accounts for 9.9 per cent of global employment in 2017, supporting twice as many jobs as financial sector. Travel & Tourism investment in 2017 was $882.4 billion, or 4.5 per cent of total investment. It is projected to rise by 4.3 per cent per annum over the next ten years to $1,408.3 billion in 2028 (5.1% of total). Tourism contribution to global GDP (10.4 per cent in 2017) is higher than many other sectors.

The domestic contributions to travel and tourism reached 87 per cent in India, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council’s (WTTC) annual economic impact data. Ranking fourth in domestic visitor spending, it is worth noting the rapid development of the domestic travel and tourism market in India, which grew by US$83 billion and rose from the eighth to the fourth largest domestic market between 2008 and 2017. Unsurprisingly, the largest developed countries dominate the top spots in terms of absolute size of domestic spending. Domestic travel is the main driving force behind travel and tourism in major economies. Strong domestic tourism in most of these countries is driven by a growing or sizeable middle-class population, an increase in spending power among domestic consumers, the sheer size of the countries, governments’ initiatives in promoting new locations, and strong or improving transportation infrastructure and economic links between different internal regions. For instance, the Indian government plans to build 100 new airports with a budget of US$60bn over the next 10 to 15 years to accommodate and stimulate the demand for domestic travel.