International tourism organizations, WTTC and WTCF, join forces to champion the decisive contribution of global bodies in fostering tourism growth
In a significant move for the global travel and tourism industry, the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) and the World Tourism Cities Federation (WTCF) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on sustainable tourism initiatives.
The partnership, formalized during the WTTC Asia Leaders' Forum in Shanghai, China, aims to foster sustainable tourism growth in world cities, addressing overcrowding and environmental concerns while supporting local economies and tourism resilience.
Gloria Guevara, President & CEO of WTTC, expressed her excitement about the partnership, stating, "This collaboration will allow us to pool our collective expertise and resources to drive sustainable tourism growth, ensuring that we balance the needs of local communities with the attraction of visitors."
Li Baochun, Executive Deputy Secretary General of WTCF, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of WTCF's focus on tourism cities and expressing a willingness to further strengthen cooperation with the global Travel & Tourism industrial chain. WTCF, headquartered in Beijing, has 218 members across 73 countries.
The partnership will take the form of joint research projects, mutual support for events and conferences, and the creation of information sharing channels. Key objectives include establishing sustainable tourism management strategies to alleviate overcrowding in popular tourism cities, ensuring long-term resilience and sustainability of tourism destinations, and facilitating collaboration among public and private stakeholders to create innovative, responsible tourism frameworks.
Anticipated benefits from this partnership involve more balanced tourism flows, improved visitor experiences, enhanced economic benefits for local communities, and strengthened capacity for climate action and destination management aligned with global sustainability goals. This aligns with the broader tourism industry's commitment to climate neutrality and supporting MSMEs in sustainable transitions.
The collaboration will broaden the scope of both organizations' knowledge and influence in the Travel & Tourism sector. WTTC represents the global Travel & Tourism private sector and has 200 CEOs, Chairs, and Presidents of the world's leading Travel & Tourism companies as members.
As part of the strategic partnership, WTTC and WTCF will support each other's events and conferences. Information sharing channels will be established, and the organizations will work together on research projects focusing on tourism investment, product development, and service accessibility.
This partnership is expected to contribute significantly to the development of sustainable measures that address both the needs of local residents and the attraction of visitors, promoting responsible tourism that benefits communities and travelers alike. By working together, WTTC and WTCF aim to create a brighter future for travel and tourism, ensuring that it remains a key driver of economic growth while preserving our planet's cultural and environmental heritage.
- This collaboration between WTTC and WTCF in the travel and tourism industry aims to address environmental concerns and overcrowding in world cities, which aligns with the global industry's commitment to climate neutrality and supports local economies.
- The partnership will focus on joint research projects, mutual event support, and information sharing channels, with key objectives including sustainable tourism management strategies, long-term resilience, and innovative, responsible tourism frameworks to facilitate economic benefits for local communities and improved visitor experiences.
