COVID-19 proves tourism’s vital role in the world economy and
Governments must work together to get people travelling again
Global travel leaders come together for mammoth five-hour virtual conference
hosted by WTM London and ITIC
The COVID-19 global pandemic has underlined the vital role travel and tourism play in the world economy,
a distinguished panel of from all corners of the globe have concluded.
The Future of Travel & Tourism: Financial Strategies for the Recovery was the second virtual conference organised by the International Tourism & Investment Conference (ITIC), and the first organised in partnership with WTM London, which used the event to re-emphasise its plan to welcome the world at its flagship three-day show in November at ExCel London.
ITIC’s ambitious five-hour video conference programme attracted 1,250 viewers from 103 countries who watched representatives from the world of government, industry, finance, hotels, airlines, tourism boards and global associations live on YouTube or Facebook.
WTM London Senior Exhibition Director Simon Press joined the event’s introductory session, saying the global event is more valid than ever and pledged that its November 2-4 2020 event would be about getting back to business.
“WTM will continue to pay a pivotal role,” he said.
Dr Taleb Rifai, Chairman ITIC and former Secretary-General UNWTO told The Future of Travel & Tourism:
Financial Strategies for the Recovery’s opening session:
“Opportunity comes from all crisis and today is an opportunity to consider what the new world looks like.
Investment is very important and we have not realised how important. Psychologically the effect of
investment is important and you can not underestimate its impact and sign of confidence.”
Gloria Guevara, President and CEO of WTTC said she hopes COVID-19 will lead to governments working
together and learning from each other.
She said: “Something like 9/11 took years to recover because each country worked in silos, with their own
restriction – now 18 years later, protocols remain different. At some airports, do I take my shoes off or
not?”
“Protocols for travel need to be the same, all hotels have to be the same.
“What’s important is a coordinated approach between the private sector and governments.”
Guevara said 80 countries have already agreed to the ‘Safe Stamp’ introduced by the WTTC so travellers
will know and understand safety procedures.
She also said there was no better time to invest, because recovery will definitely happen and “when it
recovers, it will grow fast,” she said.
Nicolas Mayer, PWC Industry Leader Hospitality and Tourism EMEA & Managing Partner Global Centre of
Excellence Tourism & Hospitality said the pandemic was worse than any previous crisis as it had hit both
the value chain and demand.
“Demand will come back very strongly, there is no reduction in the desire for travel ad no evidence of a
drop,” he told the summit. “Finance needs to help companies ramp up to survive the valley of death when
they reopen. The valley of death is the time they must survive when there’s a need to see cash out and
the wait for cash to come in. In the hotel business this can be up to 150 days.”
Destination delegates included Hon Majd Mohammad Shweikeh, Minister Tourism and Antiquities,
Jordan, who told the conference: “Initially all the tourism sector was in panic. But now we are having
meetings to ensure survival and we will focus on niche tourism.
“We have green zones in the south, unaffected by the virus and while she agreed with moderator Mr
Datar that somewhere like Petra, which is normally crowded, will have to change the way it operates.
“But we will enhance the infrastructure and revise and reshape the journey for the customer. “That means
a focus on health: hygiene, social distancing and masks.”
Emirates Airlines VP-Industry Change Rob Broere, who is also Chairman, IATA – Travel Standards Board,
said: “Our programme is in place for the health and safety of staff and passengers in co-operation with
the WTTC.
“We disinfect the aircraft every journey but we still provide gloves, masks and wipes to travellers. We
have screens at check-in desks, waiting passengers can use only one in every three seats and hand baggage
must be small to allow speedy boarding.”
Like many delegates, Broere expressed his strong opposition to quarantine. “It makes no sense. It will kill
the business,” he said.
“Consider a flight between Dubai and New Zealand. If there is no infection there is no point in imposing
14-day quarantine.”
Gerald Lawless, WTTC Ambassador, Director ITIC & Advisory Board Member Dubai Expo 2020, took up
the case for sustainable travel and tourism to be part of the solution.
“We have to convince the environmentalist that our industry does so much good for developing countries
and we must understand the threats of climate change,” said Mr Lawless.
“Aviation gets a bad press but creates less than 3 per cent of the pollution.
“Hotel groups did so well to get rid of single use plastics and Covid has brought them back.”
Margaux Constantin, Partner at McKinsey Company, which has looked at travellers’ intentions and travel
searches online, warned it may take until 2026 for a recovery.
She said travellers will spend money as soon as they are able this year, because they have the money, but
as the recession bites in 2021 bookings will fall off and may not bounce back for five years.
Former UNWTO Secretary-General Dr Rifai concluded: “Things will get worse before they get better, but
governments recognise travel and tourism is very important.
“Countries have been left on their own to make bilateral agreements towards a new world order.
“Domestic tourism keeps the sector open preserving jobs and I believe that by travelling within their
country, they will love it more. I believe a country should be enjoyed by its people first.”
Ibrahim Ayoub, Group CEO & MD of ITIC and organiser of this virtual summit added:
“The primary goal of this conference was to bring together tourism ministers, health expert, tourism
leaders and operators and investors in an open dialogue, under one roof to discuss and consider financial
solutions and preparedness to reopen the tourism industry for a better future.”
He thanked everyone for their participation and stated: “We are continuing this conversation for sustainable investment in the travel and tourism industry post COVID-19 during the WTM week in
November 2020”.
Other findings included:
- No-one supported quarantines. Most supported improved testing.
- Countries that have isolated themselves since the pandemic broke now need to co-operate
- Support differed over the idea of bubbles or corridors between nations
- Travel protocol and hygiene standards need to be the same worldwide
- Sustainability can be part of the post-pandemic sector
Click here to access the videos per panel: https://itic.uk/june-10-investment-summit-programme/
To watch the full summit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wb5C_KhUySE
Full Virtual Summit review: https://itic.uk/summit-review-trust-is-the-key-to/
ITIC is a leading conference producer whose previous events include the International Tourism Investment
Conference 2018 and 2019 in London and Investing in Tourism Sustainability Conference 2019 in Bulgaria.
ITIC is chaired by Dr Taleb Rifai, former Secretary-General of the United Nations World Tourism
Organization. More details: www.itic.uk
WTM London, the leading global event for the travel industry, is the must-attend three-day exhibition for
the worldwide travel and tourism industry. Around 50,000 senior travel industry professionals,
government ministers and international media visit ExCeL London every November, generating over £3.71
billion in travel industry contracts. http://london.wtm.com/
Next event: Monday 2 to Wednesday 4 November 2020 – London #IdeasArriveHere
