WTTC CEO Urges Easing Visa Procedures for Tourism Recovery
The CEO of the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), Julia Simpson, has expressed that the recovery of the tourism industry from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is progressing well. She called on governments to further streamline the visa application procedures to facilitate international tourism.
On November 5 in Kigali, at the 23rd WTTC Global Summit, Julia Simpson, who also serves as the council’s president, emphasized the need for governments to simplify visa regulations and expedite visa application processing to bolster international tourism.
Recent data from WTTC, in collaboration with Oxford Economics, indicates a notable resurgence in global travel, with all regions rebounding at a faster pace than initially anticipated, particularly with the Asia-Pacific region leading the recovery.
Simpson shared her optimism, stating, “I’m delighted to announce that in 2023, we are projected to reach the levels of travel seen in 2019, and some regions are already surpassing those numbers. Travel and tourism is growing at more than twice the rate of global GDP, making it a thriving industry.
Under the theme “Building Bridges to a Sustainable Future” and co-hosted by the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), the 23rd WTTC Global Summit gathered numerous industry leaders, experts, and government officials, all with the goal of supporting the sector’s expansion and transition towards a safer, more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable future.
Simpson also stressed the significance of “regenerative tourism,” an approach aimed at promoting sustainable travel practices to ensure the preservation of cultural heritage, local traditions, and the environment for future generations.
Founded in 1990, the WTTC is a globally recognized authority on the economic and social contributions of travel and tourism. As a non-profit organization headquartered in London, it counts among its members over 200 CEOs, chairpersons, and presidents from leading private-sector travel and tourism companies around the world.
Furthermore, the WTTC announced that its 2024 global summit will be hosted in Perth, the capital and largest city of Western Australia.
