WTM Backs Safer, Smarter and Greener Travel
WTM London has declared its mission to work with governments and the private sector around the world to create a safer, smarter and greener travel and tourism industry.
The event has collaborated with ministers, key organisations, leading businesses and top academics to produce a manifesto for the next decade.
The Travel & Tourism Manifesto was developed following the UNWTO, WTTC and WTM Ministers' Summit on 9th November 2020 at WTM Virtual, along with advice from key industry experts and the UN World Tourism Organisation and World Travel & Tourism Council.
Contributors to the manifesto say that spending on travel and tourism around the world will plunge by 70% year-on-year during 2020, while jobs will fall by more than a third.
They expect a long and difficult road to recovery - and global coordination is essential to hasten the rebuilding process.
Travel restrictions are not likely to be lifted fully until December 2021, and travel and tourism spending won't recover to pre-crisis levels until Q3 2023.
International business travel will be hit the hardest and is not expected to rebound fully until 2026.
By contrast, international leisure travel is forecast to surpass pre-coronavirus levels by 2024.
Along with support from UNWTO and WTTC, research partners who helped formulate the manifesto included Tourism Economics - an Oxford Economics company - and Space Global Strategy.
There was further input from leaders of trade associations such as ABTA, Advantage Travel Partnership, London and Partners, and UKInbound, as well as the bosses of prominent travel companies, such as Iberostar, Kuoni Travel UK and Sunvil Holidays.
Tourism ministers who participated in the Ministers' Summit at WTM Virtual represented countries ranging from the UK to Greece, Philippines, Jordan, Costa Rica and more.
The summit also heard from private sector panellists representing the likes of Heathrow, TUI Group, Intrepid Travel and Radisson Hotel Group.
The manifesto details five key policy areas that are crucial to revive the travel and tourism sector, shorten the recovery period and ensure long-term, sustainable growth.
The areas are:
Globally aligned travel restrictions
Global health and safety protocols
Continued government support, such as job retention schemes, grants and exemptions from taxes
Smarter, seamless travel experience
A more sustainable, resilient and inclusive travel and tourism sector - including decarbonisation and carbon removal initiatives; community engagement; and action against human trafficking and wildlife trafficking.
