Former British Prime Minister David Cameron will address the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) Global Summit in Bangkok in April.
Cameron called the referendum on whether Britain should remain in the European Union last June which resulted in the vote to exit (or Brexit). He resigned the following day to be replaced as Prime Minister by colleague Theresa May.
The WTTC announced Cameron will attend the Summit to discuss “some of the key geopolitical issues facing the world in which the sector operates”.
The summit takes place on April 26-27 and will address the theme of ‘Transforming our World’,
WTTC president and chief executive David Scowsill said “I’m delighted Mr Cameron will join us at our Global Summit. His international stature and first-hand experience of leadership on the world stage will bring valuable insights.”
The 2017 Summit aims to address issues including the future of the sector as globalisation is called into question, the impact of security threats and the need to balance security with travel facilitation, and climate change and the requirement to balance projected growth with protecting destinations.
It will hear from speakers including Professor Ian Goldin, UN World Tourism Organisation secretary general Taleb Rifai, Thailand tourism minister H E Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul, Air Asia chief executive Tony Fernandes, and Robert Jensen, chief executive of Kenyon International Emergency Services.
Scowsill said: “We will dissect travel and tourism’s power to transform economies, places and lives.”
He added: “I am particularly delighted these discussions will take place in Thailand, where travel and tourism has for many years played a vital role in economic development.”
The summit will also see the presentation of the WTTC’s Tourism for Tomorrow Awards for sustainable tourism.
Scowsill said: “As the flagship private sector event of the UN’s International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development, the Summit programme is a unique opportunity for leaders of our sector to engage with the wider development community.”