WTTC and UNWTO sign collaboration agreement at the G20 Tourism Summit

Industry authorities met in Goa (India) for the G20 Tourism Summit, which took place from June 19 to 22. A meeting in which the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), represented by its president and CEO, Julia Simpson, took the lead.

Although most of the attendees at this G20 Tourism Summit are representatives of the public sector, the two main organizations of the industry worldwide, the WTTC and the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), have agreed to jointly promote public-private collaboration. Simpson and Zurab Pololikashvili, director general of the UNWTO, signed a memorandum of understanding in this regard.

“Through the signing of this historic memorandum, WTTC and UNWTO are embarking together on a new chapter of collaboration, bringing together our expertise to pave the way for a prosperous future for the travel and tourism sector,” highlighted Simpson. “Together we can create a powerful synergy that will shape the global landscape, opening doors to endless opportunities that benefit travelers, businesses and destinations alike,” he said.

“Public-private partnerships are the foundation for transforming tourism and building resilience, and consolidating our partnership with WTTC will achieve exactly what we need: joining forces to build a better future through tourism,” said Pololikashvili.

Ms. Simpson also held a meeting with the Minister of Tourism of the host country, Shri G. Kishan Reddy. During the meeting, the WTTC CEO congratulated India for its hospitality during the presidency of the G20.

Simpson also took advantage of this meeting between world tourism leaders to meet with Patricia De Lille, South Africa’s Minister of Tourism, to discuss new developments and improvements for tourists in the African country, as well as preparations for the next WTTC Global Summit, to be held in Rwanda in November.