WTTC recognises Asia’s lead

World Travel & Tourism Council’s regional summit will take place in South Korea this September in recognition of the recent acceleration of travel and tourism in Asia.

The WTTC event is scheduled for Seoul, 10 to 11 September. Speakers will include CEOs from regional and global hotel companies, airlines, cruise lines, tour operators, travel management and online agencies; ministers of tourism; high level representatives from the NGO sector and opinion formers from the world of finance, academia and the media.

WTTC president & CEO David Scowsill said: “The Summit will have a pan-Asian focus and address economic and travel related issues, which are of vital importance to one of the world’s most important travel and tourism regions”.

The increasing demand for travel in Asia is a result of healthy emerging economies across most of the region. Figures released by WTTC over the weekend showed Asia has led travel and tourism growth in 2012, with 7.3% year-on-year growth in contribution to GDP in Southeast Asia, 6.3% in Northeast Asia and 4% in South Asia, compared with a growth contribution to GDP of only 0.4% in Europe.

Scowsill added: “Korea has continued to raise its profile internationally, led by some of the world’s leading global organisations, and through major events including the F1 Grand Prix and Expo 2012 Yeosu.”

“In the G20 nations, South Korea outperformed all others in 2012, with T&T growth in contribution to GDP of 10% and an increase in visitor spending of 38%. This followed a difficult 2011, in which it saw a drop in the number of people travelling from Japan due to the earthquake and Tsunami. All of this success makes it the perfect place to host the summit”.

Sourced: ttrweekly