WTTC organised a meeting in Goa to highlight potential of travel and tourism globally
The World Travel & Tourism Council today gathered leading Travel & Tourism stakeholders and G20 Ministers in a ‘Public-Private Dialogue’ in Goa to address the sector’s vast potential and challenges.
Joined by Indian Minister of Tourism G Kishan Reddy and United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili, President & CEO of WTTC Julia Simpson, commended India’s Ministry of Tourism for its leadership during India’s G20 Presidency and highlighted travel and tourism’s substantial contribution not only to the global economy but to employment.
Currently representing 9.2 pc of the world’s GDP and supporting one in every 11 jobs globally, the sector is experiencing remarkable growth, outpacing the global economy by growing twice as fast.
“It is proven where governments and the private sector work together in travel and tourism the economy is stronger, jobs are created, and people get to enjoy and understand other cultures. Together, businesses and governments can build back a better, stronger, and more resilient sector. Governments also heard first-hand the value of having streamlined visa processes, digital borders, and a strong focus on sustainability. We need each other to achieve this,” Simpson said.
During her address, Simpson also emphasised the opportunities for investors, governments, and society to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through collaboration.
In a press statement, WTTC says that India’s impressive expansion in Travel & Tourism was praised as a prime example. The sector is projected to contribute over INR 16.5 trillion to India’s economy this year, create 1.6 million new jobs, to reach a total employment figure of nearly 40 million people.
By the end of the decade, travel and tourism is forecast to contribute approximately 7 pc of India’s economy, says WTTC.
During the dialogue, Simpson addressed three key challenges facing the industry. She said that visa backlogs posed a significant obstacle, with excessive waiting times ranging from 200 days to a year for certain destinations. Investment in digital visas and biometrics, exemplified by Dubai Airport’s “smart gates”, is a successful example of technology streamlining travel processes, she added.
The statement adds that Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) plays a vital role in reducing carbon emissions, with the potential to cut emissions by up to 80 pc compared to traditional jet fuel. However, current production levels fall short and WTTC called on all G20 countries to conduct feasibility studies on SAF, to further facilitate decarbonisation.
Another challenge that the tourism sector faces and which was highlighted by Simpson relates to the staff shortages resulting from the pandemic that continue to be a challenge. Simpson said that collaborative efforts between governments and the private sector, along with enhanced training programs and targeted support for women, young people, and high-wage jobs will be crucial in addressing this issue.
Simpson also highlighted the groundbreaking environmental and social research conducted by WTTC in collaboration with Saudi-based Sustainable Global Tourism Centre.
This research offers comprehensive insights into the sector’s environmental and social impact, tracking data on wages, age groups, and gender, the research aims to drive progress towards the SDGs.
Simpson also underscored the potential of young people as a talent pool. With 65 pc of Indians under 35 years old, India’s G20 presidency recognises the need to address youth unemployment and create opportunities for this demographic.
New data from WTTC and the Sustainable Global Tourism Center also reveals that the sector experienced a 27.6 pc growth in youth employment between 2010 and 2019. Despite dropping in 2020 to almost the same level it was a decade before in 2010, sector youth employment appears to be rebounding quickly.
The data also shows that travel and tourism’s share of youth employment has grown since 2010, from 6.4 pc in 2010 to 8.2 pc in 2021.
WTTC says that its latest research highlights the importance for high-quality jobs that provide dignity in their work, to make the sector an attractive industry for young people to develop their long-term careers.
"
