The President and CEO of the World Travel and Tourism Council, highlighted that tourism has a great social impact, by contributing decisively in community development and gender inclusion.
He highlighted that according to the WTTC Economic Impact Report, during 2019 the travel and tourism sector was responsible for one in 10 jobs (330 million in total), contributes 10.3% to world GDP and generated one in four new job positions; She said that more than 50 percent of the workforce that moves global tourism are women.
During his participation in the virtual seminar “The recovery of Travel and Tourism, a global perspective”, organized by the International Federation of Associations of Executives of Tourism Companies (FIASEET), Guevara Manzo highlighted that tourism is experiencing an unprecedented crisis, since Globally, 121 million jobs have been lost, and the number could rise to 197 million by the end of 2020.
He explained that the two main priorities of the WTTC at the moment are: working to rebuild the confidence of travelers through the application of universal protocols, reducing risks through the use of masks; as well as the elimination of travel restrictions, such as quarantines, the responsible opening of borders and international coordination.
He explained that the WTTC is promoting a plan of four essential principles for the responsible reactivation of tourism:
- A coordinated international approach to reestablishing effective operations, by reopening borders and removing barriers.
- Promote the experience of travel without setbacks, with the application of low-cost rapid tests to avoid possible infections, as well as the use of masks.
- The adoption of unique global health, hygiene and safety protocols.
- Government support to companies in the sector and workers.
Guevara Manzo said that, with the aim of contributing to the reactivation of tourism, the WTTC designed the health and hygiene protocols for tourist establishments, based on the guidelines of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Center for the Control and Disease Prevention (CDC), as well as considering the best practices of WTTC members. It also issued the Safe Travels Stamp to recognize destinations that adopt protocols for the health care of travelers and collaborators.
On the occasion, Teresa Rubina, President of FIASEET, highlighted the importance of coordinated work between private initiative and local governments, for the recovery of tourism activity.
In turn, Rosa Martha Brown, members of the Federation, highlighted the contribution of the WTTC to the promotion of global tourism and said that it is time to join forces to move tourism forward.
Lastly, he expressed the interest of FIASEET companies to obtain the Safe Travel Seal from the World Travel and Tourism Council.
