WTTC Announces Vancouver, Canada as Site for International 2001 Leaders' Symposium
(London, England) The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) today announced Vancouver, Canada as the host city for its 2001 Symposium and Annual General Meeting. Vancouver's position between Pacific Rim and western economies and its reputation with international conference organizers has secured WTTC interests. This May, WTTC Members and world leaders will meet to discuss short term travel and tourism employment issues in both developed and...
The Symposium's theme "Shaping the Future - Good People Make Good Business" will attract Ministers of Tourism, Economy and Finance from around the world. Delegates will join WTTC Members to review global demographic trends and their impact on international employment, work forces and consumer demand for travel and tourism within the next five years.
Says WTTC President, Jean-Claude Baumgarten, "Vancouver offers a natural gathering point. Its industry leaders have demonstrated tremendous ability for infrastructure management which has earned international accolades not only as a destination but also for its service standards. As tourism is all about people, it is critical that as an industry we manage tomorrow's work force if we are to offer competitive career opportunities."
Other host cities have included London, Washington, Berlin, Buenos Aires, New York and Tokyo. This year's Symposium location and focus are most appropriate as Vancouver is also the location of the WTTC's Human Resources Centre. This facility is committed to developing education and training programs to better equip emerging economies with the necessary skills for attracting and retaining international tourism markets and harnessing their associated employment opportunities.
WTTC research estimates the Travel and Tourism Economy generates 10.8% of Gross Domestic Product and 8% of Employment across the world. Over the next ten years, Travel and Tourism economic activity is expected to grow at a rate of 4% per annum and generate US$6,591billion (11.6%) GDP and 251.6 million jobs across the world. The industry also provides a conduit by which prosperity can flow from developed to developing areas and nations. Global employment trends, however, threaten the industry's buoyancy and widespread economic benefits. The WTTC also works with a taxation policy research centre in Philadelphia and an economics research centre in Dallas.
Founded in April 1990, the WTTC works with governments to realise the full economic impact of the world's largest generator of wealth and jobs - travel and tourism. The organisation has adopted seven strategic priorities to encourage closer collaboration between public and private sectors to encourage the sustainable growth of tourism within economies.
The World Travel & Tourism Council is the global business leaders' forum for travel and tourism. Its members are Chief Executives from all sectors of the industry, including accommodation, catering, entertainment, recreation, transportation and other travel-related services. For Symposium updates or more information on the WTTC and simulated Tourism Satellite Account forecasts for 160 countries visit