WORLD TRAVEL & TOURISM COUNCIL

HISTORY , BRIEF INTRODUCTION HISTORY Freedom to Travel
Policies for Growth
Tourism for Tomorrow

1. World Travel & Tourism World Travel & Tourism
CounCilCounCil

3. INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) is a
business leaders' forum for Travel and Tourism and is
composed of Chairmen and Chief Executives of 100 of
world organisations, representing all regions and
sectors of the industry. Membership to WTTC recognises
that the travel and tourism industry is the largest
services industry, supporting 255 million jobs and
generating 9 per cent of world GDP.
Monitoring the growth of the industry allows WTTC to
set specific strategic priorities to identify issues that
most impede the operation or development of the
sector.

4. HisToryHisTory
The World Travel & Tourism Council started with a
group of industry chairs and CEOs in the late 1980s
who realised that the industry was one of the largest
provider of jobs and wanted to make governments
understand the important economic contribution it
makes. At the time Travel & Tourism was considered by
many as frivolous or at least, a 'non- essential activity'.

Investment and support given by the founding group of
hard economic data would get would get interest from
governments and therefore start to sustain the industry
for future generations to enjoy.

5. About WttC’s PoliCy & ReseARCh About WttC’s PoliCy & ReseARCh
PRogRAmme PRogRAmme
Policy and Research is at the heart of WTTC’s
activities, providing data to underpin the
organisation’s messaging, thought leadership to
develop positioning on a range of issues, and
driving policy initiatives which effect change.
Work is structured under three key priorities.
•Freedom to Travel
•Policies for Growth
•Tourism for Tomorrow

6. Freedom to TravelFreedom to Travel

 WTTC believes in the right of people to travel safely,
securely and efficiently across international borders. We
recognise that there are genuine concerns about
sovereign border security that must remain the preserve
of individual nation states, every country has the right
to defend itself as it sees fit.

7. Freedom to TravelFreedom to Travel
However, given its mission to maximize the
sustainable growth potential of the industry, it
is the role of WTTC to call on governments to
adopt smarter visa and border security policies
to promote Travel & Tourism as a driver of jobs
and economic growth. It is time for a
fundamental change in the minds of
governments - balancing security needs with
freedom to travel by moving away from the
current approach to a faster implementation of
visa waiver and trusted traveller programmes.

8. Freedom to TravelFreedom to Travel
In 2012 WTTC and the World Tourism
Organisation (UNWTO) prepared a report about
the impact of visas on the G20 countries, which
was presented at the 4th T20 Ministers' Meeting
in Mexico. This report shows the great gains that
can be achieved through visa facilitation.
Expanding on the work done on the G20, WTTC
and UNWTO also prepared a report on the
impact of visa facilitation on the APEC
economies. This report was presented on the
occasion of the APEC High Level Policy Dialogue
in October 2013.

9. Policies for GrowthPolicies for Growth
WTTC campaigns for governments to implement policies
which support the growth of Travel & Tourism through
the creation of a competitive business environment.
Despite challenges to economic growth, the Travel &
Tourism industry is still expected to be one of the
world's fastest growing sectors. But it must have clear
support from governments, if its full potential to create
jobs, increase exports and stimulate investment is to be
realised. In fact, the impetus lies with governments to
ensure that their policies specifically pave the way for
companies to offer services to consumers without
burdensome bureaucracy.

10. Policies for GrowthPolicies for Growth
•WTTC believes that the most appropriate way
to reap the enormous economic and social
benefit that Travel & Tourism brings is to
develop sensible policies guided by 5 basic
principles of intelligent taxation:
•Equity
•Efficiency
•Simplicity
•Fair Revenue Generation
•Effective Stimulus to Growth

11. Tourism for TomorrowTourism for Tomorrow
The sustainable growth of Travel & Tourism is at the heart
of WTTC's mission statement. Tourism for Tomorrow is
WTTC's vision for a sustainable future for our industry.
It is Travel & Tourism which, while growing:
•Impacts natural and cultural environments in a positive way
•Provides benefits to all sectors of society, including young
people, women and indigenous peoples.
•Attracts and develops a skilled workforce to support
growing demand.
•Stimulates consumer demand for sustainable products
•Uses latest technology to find innovative solutions to future
challenges.

12. MISSIONMISSION
WTTC advocates partnership between the public
and private sectors, delivering results that match
the needs of economies, local and regional
authorities and local communities with those of
business, based on:
•Governments recognising Travel & Tourism as a
top priority
•Business balancing economics with people, culture
and environment
•A shared pursuit of long-term growth and
prosperity.

13. CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION
WTTC works to raise awareness of Travel &
Tourism as one of the world's largest industries,
supporting 260 million jobs and generating 9
per cent of world GDP.
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) is
the forum for business leaders in the Travel &
Tourism industry. With Chief Executives of some
one hundred of the world's leading Travel &
Tourism companies as its Members, WTTC has a
unique mandate and overview on all matters
related to Travel & Tourism.

14. THANKSTHANKS

PRESENTED BYPRESENTED BY
RAVIKANT
SHARMA