The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) unveiled the theme and agenda for its 23rd World Summit, titled Building Bridges to a Sustainable Future, which will take place in Kigali, Rwanda.
This year’s much-anticipated 2023 World Summit, which will run from November 1-3, 2023, will be held in Africa for the first time, recognizing the phenomenal growth that the travel and tourism sector across the continent has witnessed in recent years.
Julia Simpson, president and CEO of WTTC, said, “This Global Summit is a rallying cry for leaders, innovators and change agents from all corners of the world to come together and craft a new vision for the sector.”
“It is an unparalleled opportunity to be at the forefront of shaping a sector that is not only resilient, but also committed to the principles of sustainability and inclusion. Rwanda is the perfect location for our Global Summit as the sector embarks on a major new Africa has the youngest population in the world and, by 2033, $1 out of every $13 created in Africa will come from travel and tourism and 1 in 17 jobs will be in the sector. This demonstrates the huge potential for the continent’s sector to create new jobs and new economic growth for young people across Africa,” he added.
Co-organized by the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), the annual event is the most influential in the travel and tourism calendar and brings together thousands of industry leaders and experts and key government representatives to continue aligning efforts to support the growth of the sector and move beyond. towards a safer, more resilient, inclusive and sustainable future.
With sessions on resilience and sustainable growth, the growing impact of AI, and understanding new and emerging markets, the Global Summit will cover the key challenges and opportunities facing the sector.
Francis Gatare, CEO of the Rwanda Development Board, said, “We are proud to host the first WTTC Global Summit in Africa. While this important meeting will take place in Rwanda, it is for the entire continent. Africa has some of the most spectacular tourism properties and experiences in the world, and the sector plays an important role in the continent’s continued economic development by creating millions of jobs.”
He further said that “this year’s WTTC Global Summit will provide a great platform to build bridges between the travel and tourism ecosystem, and co-design a sustainable future for the sector to reach its full potential.”
Source: Arecoa
