DRMumbai: The 2019 edition of World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) Global Summit will be held in Seville, Spain on April 3 and 4. The location of the Summit was announced at the closing ceremony of the 18th WTTC Global Summit in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The 2019 Summit will be hosted by Ayuntamiento of Seville in partnership with Turismo Andaluz and Turespaña.
Travel and tourism is one of the leading sectors stimulating economic growth and employment worldwide. In 2017, the global travel and tourism sector grew at the rate of 4.6 per cent, faster than the global economy as a whole (3 per cent in 2017) and generated $8.3 trillion in GDP (10.4 per cent) and generated 313 million jobs.
The sector is a significant contributor to Spain’s economy, accounting for 14.9 per cent of GDP (€$172.9bn) and 15.1 per cent of jobs (2.8 million jobs). Spain’s travel sector enjoyed a very successful 2017, overtaking the US to become the second most visited country in the world.
Gloria Guevara Manzo, President & CEO, WTTC, said, “We are extremely excited to bring next year’s WTTC Global Summit back to Europe for the first time since 2015. Seville, Spain, is a welcoming, diverse, and well-connected city which topped Lonely Planet’s list of best cities to visit in 2018.”
Manzo added, “WTTC’s annual Global Summit brings together the most influential figures from the public and private sector to address the challenges and opportunities facing travel & tourism sector. Hosting the Summit in Seville is a reflection of the commitment and efforts of the Spanish Government to grow business and leisure travel.”
Juan Espadas, Mayor, Seville, said: “We want to grow sustainably, without losing our identity as a friendly heritage city and a lifestyle closely linked to gastronomy. In Seville, we are heavily investing in diversification of the tourism industry. It is an honour to host the WTTC Global Summit.”
Matilde Asian, President, Turespaña, said, “It is an excellent opportunity for the delegates to experience Seville’s cultural life, warm climate, amazing gastronomy, and friendly people.”
Francisco Javier Fernández, Minister for Tourism, Andalucía, said, “Hosting WTTC´s Global Summit highlights Andalucía on an international scale, and we are excited to have such a high-level international event in Seville. The 2019 WTTC Global Summit represents an opportunity to showcase the richness of our culture and the opportunities our tourism sector provides.”
