The Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines welcome the announcement by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) that the Philippines has been selected as the next host country to the WTTC Global Summit in October 2021.
The announcement was made by WTTC President and CEO Gloria Guevara during the closing ceremony of the WTTC Global Summit in Cancun, Mexico.
“I would like to formally announce our next host, the Philippines, and I am inviting you all to continue with the recovery of our sector in Manila. We are very dedicated to ensure safety, and we will continue to monitor the situation carefully. I look forward to seeing you all,” Guevara announced.
Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat extended a warm invitation to all partners as the Philippines looks forward to hosting the next summit which will help restart the tourism industry and will further boost the continuing strategies to position the country as the MICE hub in Asia.
“We are eager to share our hopes, dreams and plans for our industry.”
“We, your Philippine partners in tourism, are eager to share our hopes, dreams and plans for our industry, [and are] ready to do our share in the global effort to overcome and break down barriers in this new dynamic, and unpredictable tourism landscape,” Romulo-Puyat said.
DOT, through TPB, has identified the MICE industry as a sector that can help hasten the country’s economic recovery through visitor expenditure and its contribution to employment.
The Philippines’ hosting of WTTC Global Summit will create an avenue for the private sector and local tourism industry stakeholders to consider bigger markets and present an immense opportunity to network and link up with international partners.
Moreover, it will allow the Philippines to demonstrate its commitment in the midst of current global concerns on health and safety, environmental sustainability, and local community engagement in tourist destinations.
“The tourism will once again be the driver of socio-economic growth and improve the lives of millions of people around the world.”
“Through our determination and dedication to this sector, tourism will once again be the driver of socio-economic growth, and improve the lives of millions of people around the world while championing sustainability. We will recover as one, and we will travel once again,” the tourism chief added.
The WTTC Global Summit is an annual event that gathers over 800 delegates composed of Chief Executive Officers (CEOs), Presidents, and Chairpersons of the largest and most prominent international travel and tourism companies from airlines, hotels and resorts, travel agencies, tour companies, global distribution system, transportation, and allied enterprises; as well as Tourism Ministers and officials from international organizations, such as the UNWTO.
The 3-day Summit allows delegates to discuss opportunities, challenges and issues facing the industry and draw up concrete solutions pursued across countries and regions through private and public sector collaboration.
The Summit deliberations also contribute to the formulation of global tourism policies and agenda, as well as shaping the future of travel and tourism in regions and destinations.