The head of the World Travel and Tourism Council has hailed former prime minister Theresa May as a great political leader during the pandemic as she was confirmed as a keynote speaker at the organisation’s global summit in Saudi Arabia.
WTTC president and chief executive Julia Simpson said: “Theresa May has a long-standing interest in the environment and as prime minister, she launched the ‘25 Year Environmental Plan’ to tackle issues such as plastic waste. In 2019 she formally committed the UK to achieving ‘net zero’ emissions by 2050, making Britain the first major economy to do so.
“During the pandemic, Theresa May was concerned about the uncoordinated global response, and she showed great political leadership calling for international cooperation based on evidence.
“Our event will bring together many of the world’s most powerful leaders in our sector to discuss and secure its long-term future, which is critical to economies and jobs around the world.”
May will appear alongside former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon at the event in Riyadh on November 28-December 1.
She was last year appointed chair of the Aldersgate Group, an alliance that drives action for a sustainable economy.
May served as prime minister from 2016 to 2019 and the second longest-serving post-war Home Secretary, serving for six years from 2010 to 2016.