The
G20 world leaders have for the first time, recognised the importance
of Travel & Tourism as a driver of jobs, growth and economic
recovery.
The
Leaders’ Declaration from the annual meeting of the G20 held in Los
Cabos, Mexico, on 18-19 June states "we recognize the role of
travel and tourism as a vehicle for job creation, economic growth and
development, and, while recognizing the sovereign right of States to
control the entry of foreign nationals, we will work towards
developing travel facilitation initiatives in support of job
creation, quality work, poverty reduction and global growth.”
This
is the first time that Travel & Tourism has been included in the
G20 Leaders’ Declaration and is the culmination of long-term
efforts by the industry, led by UNWTO and WTTC, to encourage world
leaders to see the potential of Travel & Tourism to create
millions of new jobs and billions of dollars of GDP.
According
to WTTC the industry directly will contribute $2 trillion in GDP and
100 million jobs to the global economy in 2012. When the wider
economic impacts of the industry are taken into account, Travel &
Tourism is forecast to contribute some $6.5 trillion to the global
economy and generate 260 million jobs – or 1 in 12 of all jobs on
the planet.
Research
by UNWTO and WTTC, released at the T20 Ministers Meeting last May,
showed that the G20 could boost their international tourist numbers
by an additional 122 million, generate an extra US$ 206 billion in
tourism exports and create over five million additional jobs by 2015
by improving visa processes and entry formalities. Findings showed
that of the 656 million international tourists who visited G20
countries in 2011, an estimated 110 million needed a visa, many of
whom were deterred from traveling by the cost, waiting time and
difficulty of obtaining a visa. Facilitating visas for these
tourists, many from some of the world’s fastest growing source
markets such as the BRICs, could stimulate demand, spending and
ultimately create millions of new jobs in the G20 economies.
