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WTTC Concludes High-Level Meeting in Madrid on Global Travel and Tourism Investment – Image Credit WTTC
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has concluded a high-level meeting in Madrid, where global industry leaders, ministers, and senior policymakers examined investment challenges and opportunities in the travel and tourism sector worldwide.
The meeting was led by Gloria Guevara, President and CEO of WTTC, and included participation from Shaikha Al Nowais, Secretary-General of UN Tourism, as well as senior government representatives and executives from global tourism businesses. Discussions focused on removing barriers to travel, leveraging technology to enable seamless journeys, strengthening global connectivity, and advancing sustainable tourism that benefits local communities and protects the environment.
A central focus was the importance of public-private partnerships in scaling investment, developing resilient infrastructure, and supporting long-term sector growth. Participants highlighted the need for legal certainty for investors, continued infrastructure development, and effective government facilitation to unlock private-sector capital.
In 2025, more than 1.5 billion people traveled internationally, 80 million more than in 2024, marking the strongest year on record for global tourism. The sector contributed approximately $11.7 trillion to the global economy, representing 10.3% of global GDP and a year-on-year growth rate of 6.7%. The sector supports one in nine jobs globally and is expected to create 91 million new jobs over the next decade, representing one in three new jobs worldwide.
The meeting also addressed the importance of talent development and skills training, safeguarding natural and cultural heritage, and ensuring inclusive growth. Investment was identified as a catalyst for balanced and equitable tourism development, particularly in emerging destinations, and as a means to support sustainability, entrepreneurship, and women in the sector.
Mara Lezama, Governor of the State of Quintana Roo, emphasized the need for inclusive tourism development, the promotion of rural and community-based tourism, and the establishment of transparent investment frameworks.
Attendees included senior leaders from the private sector, such as Désirée Bollier of The Bicester Collection, Gloria Fluxà of Iberostar, Pansy Ho of Shun Tak Holdings, José Chapur of The Palace Company, Juan Vela of Grupo Velas, Gabriele Burgio of Alpitour World, Frank Rainieri of Grupo Puntacana, José Carlos Azcárraga of Grupo Posadas, Jorge Paoli of Grupo Diestra, Ayhan Bektas of Coral Travel Group, and Dillip Rajakarier of Minor Hotel Group. Public-sector participants included ministers and vice ministers of tourism from across Latin America, as well as representatives from the Japan Tourism Agency and other national tourism authorities.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Gloria Guevara announced that WTTC will host a series of regional forums to further analyze sector-specific challenges and opportunities, supporting industry growth, job creation, and the travel and tourism sector’s contribution to global economic development through enhanced public-private collaboration.
