Julia Simpson, president and CEO of the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), predicted substantial growth in the global travel and tourism sector, projecting its value to reach nearly $15 trillion in the next decade, growing at twice the rate of global GDP growth. However, she stressed that this growth must align with sustainability efforts. Â
During the last day of the 80th IATA Annual General Meeting (AGM) and World Air Transport Summit held lately in Dubai, Simpson praised the UAE for its efforts in utilizing travel and tourism to promote sustainable development. She highlighted that the country recognized the impact of tourism in fostering a thriving economy early on.Â
Simpson highlighted that she specifically commended the UAE’s involvement in the WTTC’s Hotel Sustainability Basics program. Additionally, this program ensures that hotels adhere to basic sustainability standards, enabling travelers to make informed decisions based on a hotel’s environmental commitment.
Significance of the travel and tourism Industry
Simpson also underscored the global significance of the travel and tourism industry, noting that it sustains one in every ten jobs worldwide and contributes to one in every ten dollars of global economic growth. She stated that the industry is a significant contributor to job creation, employing 348 million people.Â
Sustainability challenges
Regarding sustainability in travel and tourism, Simpson underlined that it is a universal challenge across all sectors. She underlined the importance of government support in producing sustainable aviation fuel and called for policy measures that encourage and commit to its production. Furthermore, she highlighted the significance of utilizing renewable energy sources to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, as energy consumption accounts for approximately 25 percent of greenhouse gases in the travel and tourism sector.
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