INDUSTRY NEWS: 2nd June 2020
“We live today in unusual and difficult times. Who would have imagined just three months ago that we would only be able to hold an event like this online?” says Dr Taleb Rifai, Former Secretary General, United Nations World Tourism Organization.
Dr Rifai is also a member of the advisory board behind the Virtual Summit on June 10, 2020, The Future of Travel & Tourism, Fiancial Strategies for Recovery. It takes place onine in partnership with WTM London, starting at 9.15am UK time.
He said: “We are living in a world where uncertainty has prompted so much fear and panic that no one knows what tomorrow will bring.
“As the pandemic threat became clear, governments intervened aggressively – though to varying degrees. Initially the focus was on containment and healthcare for the infected. But as the long-term threat became clear, the focus moved to life after containment which, without a cure, is also a vital part of living.
“As we emerge from this initial phase we must aim for life with dignity, prosperity and hope. So, there is a great need to support economic recovery as a matter of urgency and also to implement measures that restore confidence and trust in the hearts and minds of people.
“This conference is, therefore, very timely and ITIC and WTM London have joined hands to bring this Virtual Summit to you. We must start planning for tomorrow and we must introduce ways and means of bringing back a sense of normality to the world in which we live.
“This is an important summit not just because of the subject matters but more significantly, its timing.
“I am sure we are all going to come out of this summit a little more confident about the direction in which we are headed”.
