Maltese Prime Minister Robert Abela stated that the global tourism and travel industry is passing through a critical turning point and said, "Recovery should also mean where we want to go next, what strategic direction we want to take for the way forward." he said.
The 26th Global Summit of the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) started in Malta.
At the summit held at the Mediterranean Conference Center in Valletta, the capital of Malta, between 7-9 October, with the theme "Reshape the Future" (FUTU[RE]SET), the topics that will shape the future of the travel and tourism industry are discussed.
At the event, issues that will shape the future of the sector, especially artificial intelligence, investments, connectivity, sustainability, workforce development and destination management, are discussed.
Speaking at the official opening of the summit, which was introduced to the press yesterday, Maltese Prime Minister Abela emphasized that the sector showed good resistance during the Covid-19 epidemic, but that recovery should not mean returning to the old point.
Stating that the global tourism and travel industry is going through a critical turning point, Abela said:
"Travel and tourism stand at a critical juncture today. We are the ones who must shape the future, and together we can achieve it. That's why we're gathered here. I remember six years ago, just two months after taking office, I had to make the very difficult decision to close restaurants, ports and airports in the first few days of March 2020, right at the beginning of the pandemic. The sector you represent here showed extraordinary resilience during those periods and in the times after. And now it has rebounded very strongly. But recovery can't just mean the industry returning to where it was in the past. “At the same time, recovery should mean where we want to go next, what strategic direction we want to take for the way forward.”
Robert Abela touched on the changing consumer trends and quality-oriented transformation in the tourism sector and stated that the stakeholders of the tourism sector have to improve their discourse.
Stating that tourism is constantly developing and undergoing transformation, Abela pointed out that the preferences of tourists are changing accordingly and said:
“Today's discerning traveler wants much more than a flight, a hotel room or a trip to the beach. People are increasingly looking for authentic experiences. They want to explore a country's culture, taste its traditional foods, understand its history, experience its communities and connect with the people who live there. They are looking for wellness, heritage, events and experiences. They expect good connectivity and uninterrupted technology. And increasingly, they care about the environmental and social impact of the choices they make. In short, they want to get better value for money, and this is to be expected. "This transformation creates huge opportunities, but it also places huge responsibilities on us."
In this context, Abela emphasized that sustainability and economic growth are an inseparable whole and said, "Of course, we cannot build the successful tourism industry of the future by consuming the very assets on which that industry depends." he said.
Stating that a cleaner country will offer a better life for both local people and visitors, Abela said:
“More efficient transport benefits both locals and visitors. The restored heritage enriches locals and visitors alike. Vibrant public spaces benefit locals and visitors alike. Greater digitalization, better infrastructure and stronger connectivity serve both our people and the tourism industry. For this reason, quality of life and quality tourism should progress in synchronization and parallel with each other."
Maltese Prime Minister Abela underlined that the future of the tourism sector requires a true partnership between governments, businesses, employees and communities.
Stating that various questions regarding the future of tourism are on the agenda all over the world, Abela said:
"Destinations around the world are asking similar questions: How do we continue to create economic opportunities while protecting the places people travel to see? How do we embrace technologies like artificial intelligence without losing the human dimension that makes travel meaningful? How do we address the crucial issue of climate change while continuing to connect people and economies? How do we attract investment while ensuring communities feel the benefits? And how do we ensure tourism remains resilient in a world that continues to change at an extraordinary pace? There are no simple answers to these questions. And no country, no government, can do this alone. "The future of tourism requires true partnership between governments, businesses, employees, destinations and communities. That's why organizations like WTTC are important. WTTC brings together public and private sector leadership around the same table. This summit provides us with a great opportunity not only to talk about the future, but to exchange ideas, shape that future, challenge established ideas and build partnerships."
World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) President Manfredi Lefebvre d'Ovidio also stated that the global travel industry is changing rapidly and said that artificial intelligence and geopolitical uncertainties are reshaping the sector.
Speaking about the future of the global travel industry, the problems it faces and its growth potential, Lefebvre d'Ovidio said:
"There is a reality of artificial intelligence that is changing the way people plan and book travel. At the same time, expectations and geopolitical balances are shifting. New countries are opening their doors. Some parts of the world are becoming more problematic. In the meantime, we must be better prepared to face diseases. We do not want to experience another Covid era. We must find a way to transform working in the travel industry into the perception of safer jobs for people participating in the industry. What happened during Covid was shocking for many people."
Stating that the sector has to cope with geopolitical crises and unpredictable shocks despite its high growth momentum, Lefebvre d'Ovidio continued his speech as follows:
"Tourism is a successful industry. We are talking about a successful industry; two hotels are opened every day by one of the brands here, this is an incredible growth. That is why we have to deal with the current unpredictable events. If we do not face this, we will not face the facts. This can be on a global scale, as with Covid, or on a local scale, like what is happening now. We were having a great dinner yesterday and a bomb exploded at Riyadh Airport. What will be the consequences of this? What will be the extent of the perception of uncertainty on the consumer? We will see, but We have to be able to react to that and move beyond that.”
The summit, which will end tomorrow, will host more than 100 speakers, including former heads of state, ministers and senior executives, as well as leading representatives of the travel and tourism industry from different parts of the world.
Executives of Hilton, IHG Hotels & Resorts, MSC Group, Trip.com Group, Four Seasons, Marriott International and Accor are among the participants at the summit, where senior executives of the industry's leading companies will also speak.
