Inaugural WTTC Asia Summit to focus on critical issues in the region

ETW STAFF – Mumbai

David Scowsill, president & CEO, World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), speaking at the UNWTO Regional Conference on Tourism Partnerships in Seoul recently outlined the themes that will feature at the Ministerial Roundtable and inaugural WTTC Asia Summit to be held in Seoul on September 10-11 2013.

Scowsill told the assembled guests, including Charm Lee, CEO, Korea Tourism Organisation, and Dr Taleb Rifai, secretary general, UNWTO, that the WTTC Asia Summit will address what needs to be done to harness the enormous growth potential of the travel and tourism industry.

Scowsill said, “With Asia set to dominate world economic growth, travel and tourism will play a key role showing 5 per cent -7 per cent average increases in the industry’s total contribution to GDP over the next ten years, generating over 47 million new jobs in the region. This regional growth will impact travel and tourism around the world, with expanding numbers of Asian travellers making their mark in the global marketplace. The challenges in meeting this growth command the attention of all the global players in the industry, as well as the top political leaders worldwide.”

While in Seoul, Scowsill had a number of top-level private sector meetings relating to the Asia Summit. The WTTC Asia Summit will provide the opportunity for an exchange between private and public sector, and it will tackle some of the critical pressing issues facing travel and tourism in the region. The Asia Summit will be attended by some of the region’s most influential business leaders and decision makers, joined by speakers who will talk about global trends and key issues that impact the region from other parts of the world.