KIGALI, RWANDA: The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) opened its 23rd Global Summit in Kigali on the 1st of November 2023, marking a significant milestone as the event's first-ever hosting in Africa. During the summit, WTTC President and CEO Julia Simpson delivered an optimistic message, highlighting the robust recovery of the global Travel & Tourism sector, returning to the pre-pandemic vigor of 2019.
Data presented at the summit, sourced from WTTC and its partner Oxford Economics, reveals a remarkable resurgence in global travel, exceeding earlier projections, with the Asia-Pacific region leading the way.
Speaking at the Global Summit in Kigali, Julia Simpson emphasized: "Our latest data underscores the enduring appeal and resilience of our sector, surpassing recovery expectations. This trend reflects the enduring consumer appetite for travel, and despite China's full recovery potential yet to be realized, the global sector's performance is exceeding expectations."
Notably, WTTC introduced the Environmental Impact Research data (ESR) in collaboration with the Sustainable Tourism Global Center (STGC), an arm of the Ministry of Tourism of Saudi Arabia. This data initiative, launched during the previous WTTC Global Summit in Riyadh, provides a comprehensive view of the environmental footprint of the Travel & Tourism sector, including greenhouse gas emissions, energy consumption, and freshwater use.
According to the data, Travel & Tourism was responsible for 8.1% of greenhouse gas emissions in 2019, accounting for 10.6% of total global energy usage and 0.9% of freshwater consumption. This groundbreaking ESR data covers 185 countries across all regions and will be updated annually with the latest figures. It also introduces individualized fact sheets for each country and major global regions.
As the host of the WTTC Global Summit in Africa, Kigali's event will feature a diverse lineup of speakers, including football icon Didier Drogba, renowned global economist Justin Urquhart-Stewart, Francis Gatare, CEO of the
Rwanda Development Board, and Heads of State from the region. The summit will also see participation from Climate Activist, Ineza Umuhoza Grace, Juliet Slot, Chief Commercial Officer at Arsenal Football Club, and David Pekoske, TSA Administrator of the United States.
The event in Kigali has drawn attendance from WTTC members, international media, and government representatives from over 45 countries, underscoring the global importance of the Travel & Tourism sector's resurgence.
The WTTC Global Summit in Kigali serves as a beacon of hope for the industry, signaling its resilience and determination to recover stronger than ever.
Data presented at the summit, sourced from WTTC and its partner Oxford Economics, reveals a remarkable resurgence in global travel, exceeding earlier projections, with the Asia-Pacific region leading the way.
Speaking at the Global Summit in Kigali, Julia Simpson emphasized: "Our latest data underscores the enduring appeal and resilience of our sector, surpassing recovery expectations. This trend reflects the enduring consumer appetite for travel, and despite China's full recovery potential yet to be realized, the global sector's performance is exceeding expectations."
Notably, WTTC introduced the Environmental Impact Research data (ESR) in collaboration with the Sustainable Tourism Global Center (STGC), an arm of the Ministry of Tourism of Saudi Arabia. This data initiative, launched during the previous WTTC Global Summit in Riyadh, provides a comprehensive view of the environmental footprint of the Travel & Tourism sector, including greenhouse gas emissions, energy consumption, and freshwater use.
According to the data, Travel & Tourism was responsible for 8.1% of greenhouse gas emissions in 2019, accounting for 10.6% of total global energy usage and 0.9% of freshwater consumption. This groundbreaking ESR data covers 185 countries across all regions and will be updated annually with the latest figures. It also introduces individualized fact sheets for each country and major global regions.
As the host of the WTTC Global Summit in Africa, Kigali's event will feature a diverse lineup of speakers, including football icon Didier Drogba, renowned global economist Justin Urquhart-Stewart, Francis Gatare, CEO of the
Rwanda Development Board, and Heads of State from the region. The summit will also see participation from Climate Activist, Ineza Umuhoza Grace, Juliet Slot, Chief Commercial Officer at Arsenal Football Club, and David Pekoske, TSA Administrator of the United States.
The event in Kigali has drawn attendance from WTTC members, international media, and government representatives from over 45 countries, underscoring the global importance of the Travel & Tourism sector's resurgence.
The WTTC Global Summit in Kigali serves as a beacon of hope for the industry, signaling its resilience and determination to recover stronger than ever.
