dominated debate, but Obama proved the biggest draw. Ian Taylor reports from Seville
Obama’s advice: Tell government what you want
Former US president Barack Obama has urged travel industry leaders to be “concrete about what governments can do to help tourism”.
Addressing the World Travel &
Tourism Council (WTTC) global summit in Seville, Obama said: “Making the case for the economic benefits of tourism is the way to get politicians’ attention. “Having a clear agenda is important. With all the things that governments have on their plate, narrow it down and make it simple. Be concrete about what governments can do to help or to hurt tourism. The more specific and clear the industry is, the more likely a problem is to be solved.” Obama is viewed by global
travel leaders as the most tourism-friendly leader of a major economy they have seen. He said: “One of the benefits of travel is to remind people of global
“We prevented a Great Depression. Your industry would not have grown without that”
diversity and the differences between us. But travel also reminds us of what we share, of what we see of ourselves in each other.” However, he noted: “For young
women, travel poses specific issues around safety and security. “If young women feel
uncomfortable in your destination, you may lose their money. They will not put up with that stuff.” Obama told the summit:
“Climate change is demonstrable and it’s happening now. Some places we most want to visit are at risk. Some of the most spectacular parts of our civilisation are on
OBAMA: ‘Travel reminds people of differences and of what we share’
parts of the coast that won’t survive an extra four feet of ocean.” Asked what he is most proud
of in his time in office, Obama said: “People overlook the fact that we helped save the world economy in 2008. We prevented a Great Depression. We didn’t fix everything, but we averted disaster. our industry would not have grown without that.” He added: “I’m proud of the
Paris Accord on climate change even though the US is not a signatory to it. Climate change will be the defining issue of our time even if people don’t think it is.”
Guevara warns growth forecasts are ‘not a given’
Travel is “the best industry partner for governments”, WTTC president and chief executive Gloria Guevara told the summit. “Our sector will generate 100 million jobs over the next decade, meaning one in four new jobs will be thanks to travel and tourism,” she said. “Our sector is truly the best partner for governments to generate economic growth, create jobs and reduce poverty.” However, she warned: “We
can’t take these forecasts as a given. Last year saw 1.4 billion international arrivals and 4.4 billion people flying around the world. How are we going to transport four billion additional air passengers? How are going to grow our sector sustainably.”
GUEVARA: ‘Our sector will create 100m jobs over the next decade’
WTTC sets up industry taskforce to tackle human trafficking
Tui and Thomas Cook are among the founding members of a global industry taskforce to combat human trafficking set up by the World Travel & Tourism Council. Announcing the taskforce in
Seville, WTTC president and chief executive Gloria Guevara said: “Forty million people live in modern slavery – a lot of women, a lot of girls and children. It’s a crime and it’s all around us.” She noted there are an
estimated 30 million victims of
human trafficking “which relies on travel and tourism networks”. Guevara told the summit: “We
need to increase awareness. We need to train employees to detect trafficking. We have founded a taskforce to exchange information, coordinate efforts and engage with the public sector and non-governmental organisations. “In a lot of countries, human
trafficking is not a crime, so we will work with governments to develop legislation to make it a crime.”
The taskforce will also seek to establish support for survivors. Guevara said: “This topic is very
close to my heart. I have been involved with the issue since 1995 and have met victims in London, in Mexico, in the Philippines. We can all do much more.” The WTTC noted: “Human trafficking is present virtually everywhere.” The taskforce marks the first industry-wide effort to assert zero tolerance of trafficking. The WTTC said its objectives include “to
increase industry and consumer awareness of human trafficking to train employees and travellers on how to identify and report cases of suspected trafficking to encourage legislation which recognises human trafficking as a crime and to provide assistance, training and opportunities to survivors”. Founding members also include
Airbnb, American Express Global Business Travel, CWT, Emirates, Expedia, Hilton, Marriott and Silversea Cruises.
11 April 2019
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