WTTC calls for leadership from Australian Government to save the Travel & Tourism sector

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has urgently called on the Australian government for strong leadership and unprecedented international collaboration, to save the struggling Travel & Tourism sector and recover the millions of jobs already impacted.

Over 100 of the worlds major travel and global business leaders, from major airlines, airports, hotels, tour operators and travel companies, have backed the unprecedented move.

The industry leaders signed and sent the letter, which called for urgent coordinated action, to Australias Prime Minister Scott Morrison, the seven Heads of State of the G7* group of countries, as well as South Korea and Spain, the worlds major source markets.

The letter called on Australias leadership during these critical times and was also sent to Marise Payne, Simon Birmingham, Anthony Albanese, and other such international opposition leaders, highlighting the non-partisan nature of the crisis.

A copy of the letter was also sent to Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission.

WTTC, which represents the global Travel & Tourism private sector, says political leaders of these major powers must step forward to save the global economy, and support the recovery of the hundreds of millions of jobs already impacted.

If the global leaders fail to come together, WTTC anticipates irreversible damage to the Travel & Tourism sector. Furthermore, as the crippling travel restrictions remain in place, the number of jobs losses around the world will continue to increase.

According to WTTCs 2020 Economic Impact Report, during 2019, Travel & Tourism was responsible for one in 10 jobs (330 million total), making a 10.3% contribution to global GDP and generating one in four of all new jobs. Moreover, it is one of the most diverse sectors, employing people from all socio-economic backgrounds regardless of age, gender or ethnicity, and includes 53% women and 30% youth employed across the sector.

Despite Travel & Tourisms crucial importance to the local and global economies, WTTC is gravely concerned there is no clear or internationally coordinated effort to protect this uniquely exposed sector.

WTTC President and Chief Executive, Gloria Guevara highlights as the Travel & Tourism sector buckles under mounting pressure, and the global economy struggles to survive, we have to ask who is in charge of getting us out of this crisis and will lead the world to save the jobs and secure the futures of the many millions of people globally?

We have reached a stage where critical action is urgently needed. While we recognise each country must protect their own citizens and the priority to date has been domestic matters, any measures taken in silos moving forward will only worsen the plight of millions of ordinary people.

We need to transcend politics and put the millions of livelihoods, which have been affected by COVID-19, front and centre. From cabin crew to hotel staff, travel agents to call centre agents, waiters to housekeepers, receptionists to drivers, hotel managers to chefs, and the many more unsung heroes who depend on a thriving Travel & Tourism sector.

Guevara adds the voices of ordinary people must be heard, and we are calling on them to let world leaders know, in no uncertain terms, that the time for action is now.

This is not a binary solution or a choice between health on the one hand, and jobs, the economy and travel on the other. We can make strong progress on all these fronts if we follow the expert advice from science and learn from the past and positive experiences of others.

WTTC and the other signatories of the letter, sent to the leaders of the world, are committed to working together to help resolve the worst crisis of our generation, and bring back the millions of jobs impacted. However, the private sector cannot do this alone.

History teaches us the road the recovery can be either long and painful, or shorter and less devastating. During the 2008 financial crisis, strong global leadership, and public-private collaboration, enabled us to recover in shorter timeframe. We cannot see the same collaboration amongst todays leaders. We must restore the confidence to travel and put our people back to work to rebuild the global economy.

It is vital that the leaders of these countries come together and prioritise rescuing the world from this unprecedented crisis, by acting in an effective and coordinated way to bring back more than 120 million jobs and livelihoods affected.

Among those backing the WTTC call were the business leaders of major airlines, such as Virgin Atlantic, WestJet, British Airways, Emirates and Etihad.

Business leaders from top international hotel groups, such as Accor, Best Western, Hilton, Hyatt, InterContinental, Mandarin Oriental, Marriott, Melia Hotels and Radisson have also supported the initiative.

Endorsement has also come from major tour operators and travel companies, such as American Express, Carlson Wagonlit, Expedia, Travelport, TUI and Uber.

In this letter, WTTC has identified four measures which need concerted international framework and leadership to combat the coronavirus:

1.Wearing a mask: This should be mandatory on all modes of transport throughout the entire traveller journey, as well as when visiting any interior venue and in locations where there is restricted movement which results in close personal contact and required physical distancing cannot be maintained. According to medical evidence, such measures can reduce the risk of the spread by up to 92%.

2.Testing and contact tracing We need governments to invest and agree on extensive, rapid, and reliable testing, ideally with results available in as quick as 90 minutes, and at a low cost, before departure and/ or after arrival (symptomatic and asymptomatic would-be travellers), supported by effective and agreed contact tracing tools. The application of one or multiple tests, with the second after five days, will help to isolate infected people.

3.Quarantine for positive tests only: Quarantine for healthy travellers, which only serves to damage the economy, should not be necessary if testing is in place before departure and/or on arrival, and effective containment measures are taken five days later. This can replace blanket quarantine in a more targeted and effective way significantly reducing the negative impact on jobs and the economy.

4. Reinforcing global protocols and standardise measures: The adoption of global health and safety protocols will help rebuild traveller confidence and ensure a consistent, coordinated and aligned approach of the travel experience in addition to significantly reducing the risk of infection. We also support the Public Health Corridor Concept which promotes a clean and safe end-to-end journey.

WTTC research has shown that even a modest resumption of travelling can have massive economic benefits and bring thousands of desperately needed jobs back; providing a critical boost for the struggling Travel & Tourism sector and generating desperately needed GDP for economies left floundering after being struck by the pandemic.

For more information, visitwww.wttc.org

25th July 2020 - Dubai and Indonesia are latest recipients of WTTC Safe Travels stamp

9th June 2020 - Global tourist destinations sign up to the WTTC global safety and hygiene stamp

28th May 2020 - WTTC launches worlds first global safety stamp

13th May 2020 - Trip.com Group to oversee WTTC initiative to help revive tourism sector

1st May 2020 - WTTC outlines the new normal when travelling resumes

23rd April 2020 - WTTC calls on G20 leaders to coordinate recovery for the tourism industry

17th April 2020 - WTTC commends global tourism industry for helping during COVID-19

20th September 2019 - WTTC and Deloitte unveil initiative to ensure tourism success during the digital revolution

10th April 2019 - WTTC launches tourism best practices toolkit to inform governments

9th April 2019 - Cambodian sustainable tourism initiative congratulates WTTC award winners

8th April 2019 - WTTC recognises sustainable tourism excellence with 2019 Awards

17th January 2019 - CambodianCamp chosen as a finalist in WTTC Tourism Awards

12th December 2018 - WTTC highlights role of tourism in attaining a carbon neutral world by 2050

4th September 2018 - Entries open for 15th edition of WTTC Tourism for Tomorrow Awards

14th August 2018 - WTTC research shows tourism generated 18% of New Zealands GDP in 2017

Asking a small favourWe hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

The news we publish atwww.ausleisure.com.auis independent, credible (we hope) and free for you to access, with no pay walls and no annoying pop-up ads.

However, as an independent publisher, can we ask for you to support us by subscribing to the printedAustralasian Leisure Managementmagazine - if you don't already do so.

Published bi-monthly since 1997, the printedAustralasian Leisure Managementdiffers from this website in that it publishes longer, in-depth and analytical features covering aquatics, attractions, entertainment, events, fitness, parks, recreation, sport, tourism and venues management.

Subscriptions cost just $90 a year.

Click hereto subscribe.

Here is the original post:

WTTC calls for leadership from Australian Government to save the Travel & Tourism sector - Australasian Leisure Management