WTTC Chief Calls for Unified Response to Economic Crisis

President and CEO of the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), Jean-Claude Baumgarten, has called on governments around the world to work in partnership with the private sector of travel and tourism for the long-term sustainability of the industry.

“The last few months have been increasingly challenging,” Baumgarten told delegates attending the World Travel Market’s Global Economic Forum in London, “not just for Travel & Tourism but for all sectors of the global economy.”

Although there are many uncertainties as to how long the current crisis will continue, and how deep its impact will be on disposable incomes and business and consumer confidence in different markets, past experience has shown that the travel and tourism industry always rebounds from cyclical downturns - sometimes even stronger than before.

“Moreover,” Baumgarten noted, “although severe, this crisis cannot be compared with past crises due to events such as 9/11, SARS, or even the Gulf war. Today, people still want to travel and, once the recovery starts, there is likely to be huge pent-up demand.”

Turning to the public sector representatives at the Forum, Baumgarten stressed that “this is no time for governments to see travel and tourism as a “cash cow” –an easy source of much-needed revenues for the treasury’s coffers.”

Rather, he warned, governments should provide a supportive policy framework to help stimulate demand and ensure that the travel industry continues to generate employment and alleviate poverty in emerging markets.