WTTC recognises India’s commitment to save Travel & Tourism
As of September 2020, more than 121 million jobs and livelihoods in the Travel and Tourism sector have been impacted globally creating the worst economic and social crisis. The WTTC presented a plan which aims to restart international travel and tourism and recover 100 million jobs globally.
During the historic meeting of G20 Tourism Ministers and CEOs of the world’s leading companies, the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) acknowledged the government of India for its support to the private sector.
Gloria Guevara, President & CEO, WTTC, said, “We would like to thank the Government of India for its continued support and commitment to Travel & Tourism. We also express our gratitude for recognising that cooperation between the public and private sectors will be critical for the recovery.
“India is a major tourist destination and is, therefore, a strategic ally to strengthen the recovery of Travel & Tourism activity in the region. In 2019, India’s Travel & Tourism sector made up 6.8 per cent of the country’s total GDP, and 8 per cent of total employment. The government of India’s leadership is instrumental and essential for us to be able to work towards a single agenda and the reactivation of international travel to benefit the millions of people in India who depend on the sector for their livelihoods.”
Puneet Chhatwal, MD and CEO of Indian Hotels Company Limited, said, “It was an honour to be part of the historic G20 Tourism Meeting. In India, travel and hospitality contributes 9.3 per cent to the overall Indian GDP and accounts for over 8 per cent of India’s total employment. It is therefore imperative to come together and focus on the revival of the sector across the globe with optimism, hope and unity in solidarity of the industry. It is important for governments and the private sector across the world to collaborate and set standardised protocols which includes rapid testing procedures, establishing consistent global quarantine practices or creating a framework for synchronised global contact tracking. A unified approach will allow us to build the new age of travel, stronger and better than ever, whilst inspiring traveller confidence.”
WTTC has been at the forefront of leading the private sector in the drive to rebuild global consumer confidence and encourage the return of Safe Travels.
According to WTTC’s 2020 Economic Impact Report, shows how the Travel & Tourism sector will be critical to the recovery. It revealed that during 2019, Travel & Tourism was responsible for one in 10 jobs (330 million in total), making a 10.3 per cent contribution to global GDP and generating one in four of all new jobs.