WTM London Publishes Manifesto for Safer, Smarter and Greener Tourism Industry

WTM London has published a Travel & Tourism Manifesto to guide policy-makers with concrete solutions to present and future challenges, aiming to create a safer, smarter and greener travel and tourism industry.

The manifesto had the support of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), plus more than 200 international leaders (public and private sector) from the tourism industry. It was developed following the UNWTO, WTTC and WTM Ministers’ Summit in November 2020 at WTM Virtual.

“The devastation of the coronavirus pandemic means we must collaborate across borders, governments and private sectors to build a better world for the travel industry. The outcome of our Ministers’ Summit is this fantastic manifesto – setting out ideas and actions for the next decade, to nurture a safer, smarter and greener travel and tourism sector,” said WTM Portfolio Director Claude Blanc.

According to contributors to the manifesto:

– spending on travel and tourism around the world will plunge by 70 percent year-on-year during 2020, while jobs will fall by more than a third
– 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
– international leisure travel is forecast to surpass pre-coronavirus levels by 2024.

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.

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, as well as of travel companies, such as Kuoni Travel UK and Sunvil Holidays.

Click here to download the WTM Travel & Tourism Manifesto.