The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) is to spearhead a global public and private sector drive to revive international travel and save 100 million jobs
The WTTC claims its Jobs Recovery Plan could save 1.93 million jobs in the UK alone and 65 million across all G20 countries, including Spain.
The association says 19.9 million jobs in Europe could be saved, with a further 45.8 million in the Asia Pacific region and 20.2 million in the Americas.
Last week, G20 Tourism Ministers hosted more than 45 chief executives and members of WTTC, who presented their plan to save the sector and discussed initiatives to deliver a prompt recovery.
The WTTC now intends to establish a structure to deliver on these goals, led by a global steering committee comprised of 12 WTTC member CEOs and other business and institutional leaders to establish an international consensus.
Priorities and recommendations made by the committee will be passed onto functional working groups for action and delivery. Working groups will look at how to open up travel by creating ‘air corridors’ and a globally-recognised standard for an airport test and trace regime, among other ideas.
In addition, a government affairs working group will liaise with individual governments to ensure they have relevant data and information needed to support efforts.
Gloria Guevara, president and chief executive of the WTTC, said: “Only cooperation at the highest level and engagement with the public and private sector will achieve action.
“It is vital that ‘air corridors’ be restored between the world’s leading financial hubs, such as the hugely important transatlantic route between London and New York.
“Restoring these routes for international business travellers must be coupled with the agreement and adoption of globally-recognised standards for a rapid, cost-effective airport test and trace regime.
“Together these will help create a safe and hygienic environment to travel and aid the beleaguered travel and tourism sector which continues its fight for survival.
“This in turn will act as an engine to help kickstart the economic global recovery to benefit the whole travel and tourism sector and millions of jobs throughout the supply chain which are dependent upon international travel.
“The economic fallout from Covid-19 continues to relentlessly burn its way through the travel and tourism sector. However, our plan could save 100 million jobs through strong international cooperation, removing travel barriers and introducing an international testing protocol at airports to minimise the spread of Covid-19.
“While I am encouraged by the unity and strength of purpose shown by the private and public sector at the recent G20 Tourism Ministers Meeting, there is so much at stake that we must redouble our collective efforts to save the sector together.”