WTTC Urges Global Industry Leadership

globeThe travel and tourism industry needs to report and communicate the benefits and value it brings to the global community and ensure that it genuinely embraces a Tourism for Tomorrow with standards of ethics and sustainability of the highest order, says David Scowsill, president and CEO of the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC).

Scowsill in his closing speech at the recent WTTC Global Summit in Hainan, China, urged the industry to demonstrate leadership and accountability. "We need to work in true partnership with governments - when they listen - and with our local communities and stakeholders. We must also engage with our staff, our customers and our consumers."

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"We have a responsibility for the one billion travelers each year on our planet and another billion soon; for the plight of those affected by disasters, whether through natural disaster or man-made conflict and for the careful preservation of resources and protection of the planet. And we also have the responsibility to provide millions of quality jobs to people, who are seeking fulfillment and quality of life through employment, training, opportunities and careers. And we must not forget that we have to satisfy the markets and investors, who quite properly and responsibly seek returns for the huge investment that will be needed. If we can take care of all these responsibilities, then we will become the greatest industry on earth," Scowsill said.

Scowsill said there is currently a vacuum in global leadership and the travel industry needs to play its part. "National governments and global institutions are increasingly struggling to tackle many of the issues. Governments do not always recognize our contribution at the table. As an industry, we need to become more vocal and more sophisticated in our co-ordination and articulation of our agenda going forward, if we are to succeed. The enormous infrastructure that the massive growth in travel will require will only happen through consensus, collaboration and co-operation."

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