(TAN): Tourism ministers of various countries urged the public and private sectors to work together to save travel and tourism at the Global Leaders Dialogue session at WTTC’s annual Global Summit 2021 in Cancun, Mexico. Key ministers and business leaders participated in the event this week.
Gloria Guevara, WTTC President & CEO, said: “The seriousness of the impact of Covid-19 cannot be overestimated. WTTC research shows this crisis has been 18 times worse than the 2008 financial crash. But WTTC has worked tirelessly with its Members to find solutions to revive the sector and save millions of jobs globally which have been lost and the terrible social impact of their disappearance.”
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Among those participating in WTTC’s Global Leaders Dialogue were Harry Theocharis, the Greek tourism minister, who championed the public sector’s lead to provide a roadmap out of the Covid-19 Crisis.
Kevin McAleenan, former US secretary of homeland security, said it was vital the international community laid down parameters and followed through at the governmental level, advocating a pragmatic risk-management approach to resuscitate international travel.
Portuguese Secretary of State for Tourism Rita Marques said the sector must avoid taking short-term decisions and instead advocated the development of a long-term strategy by government and private companies.
Colombian Vice Minister of Tourism Julián Guerrero Orozco warned against the prolonged use of ‘health passports’, which create a danger of first and second class travellers and become a real barrier to travel.
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Also participating were Spanish Secretary of State for Tourism, Fernando Valdés Verelst, Nicole Marrder, Minister of Tourism of Honduras and Edmund Bartlett, Minister of Tourism for Jamaica.
Mexico was represented by Carlos Joaquin Gonzalez, Governor of Quintana Roo and Federal Secretary of Tourism, Miguel Torruco Marqués.
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