World leaders discuss tourism opportunities at WTTC G20

Accompanied by the Minister of Tourism of India, the Hon. G. Kishan Reddy and UNWTO Secretary General Zurab Pololikashvili, Julia Simpson, President and CEO of WTTC, congratulated the Indian Ministry of Tourism for its leadership during the Indian G20 Presidency and highlighted the substantial contribution of Travel & Tourism not only to the world economy but also to employment.

Currently representing 9.2% of world GDP and supporting one in 11 jobs globally, the sector is experiencing remarkable growth, outpacing the world economy by growing twice as fast.

Julia Simpson, President and CEO of WTTC, said: “It is proven that when governments and the private sector work together on travel and tourism, the economy is stronger, jobs are created and people can enjoy and understand other cultures.

“Together, businesses and governments can rebuild a better, stronger and more resilient industry. Governments have also heard firsthand the value of having simplified visa processes, digital borders and a strong focus on sustainability. We need each other to achieve this."

During his speech, Simpson emphasized the opportunities investors, governments and society have to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through collaboration.

India's impressive expansion in Travel & Tourism was hailed as a prime example.

The sector is expected to contribute more than INR 16.5TN to the Indian economy this year, create 1.6 million new jobs and reach a total employment figure of almost 40 million people.

By the end of the decade, travel and tourism is expected to contribute about 7% of India's economy.

During the dialogue, Simpson addressed three key challenges facing the industry.

1. Visa backlog represents a major hurdle, with excessive wait times ranging from 200 days to a year for certain destinations. Investment in biometrics and digital visas, exemplified by Dubai airport's 'smart gates', is a successful example of technology streamlining travel processes.
2. Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) plays a vital role in reducing carbon emissions, with the potential to reduce emissions by up to 80% compared to traditional jet fuel. However, current production levels fall short and the WTTC called on all G20 countries to carry out feasibility studies on SAF, to further facilitate decarbonisation.
3. Staff shortages as a result of the pandemic remain a challenge. Collaborative efforts between governments and the private sector, along with better training programs and targeted support for women, youth, and high-paying jobs will be crucial to addressing this issue. Simpson also highlighted
innovative environmental and social research conducted by WTTC in collaboration with the Saudi Arabia-based Center for Global Sustainable Tourism.

This research offers comprehensive insights into the environmental and social impact of the sector, tracking data on wages, age groups and gender, the research aims to drive progress towards the SDGs.

Simpson also underscored the potential of young people as a talent pool. With 65% Indians under the age of 35, India's G20 Presidency recognizes the need to address youth unemployment and create opportunities for this demographic.

New data from the WTTC and the Center for Global Sustainable Tourism also reveals that the sector experienced a 27.6% growth in youth employment between 2010 and 2019.

Despite falling in 2020 to almost the same level as a decade earlier in 2010, youth employment in the sector appears to be rebounding rapidly.

The data also shows that the share of travel and tourism in youth employment has grown since 2010, from 6.4% in 2010 to 8.2% in 2021.

WTTC's latest research highlights the importance of high-quality jobs that bring dignity to their work, in making the sector an attractive industry for young people to develop their long-term careers.

Private sector companies that attended the Public-Private Dialogue included VFS, VISA, Marriott, IHG, Airbnb, CLIA, The Oberoi Group, Indian Hotels Company Limited, and MakeMyTrip.