WTTC

We were privileged to be joined by Dr. Taleb Rifai, respected tourism statesman, aboard Crystal Serenity for the first-ever @WTTC Leadership Cruise through the Suez Canal 🚢 As former Secretary-General of UN Tourism, Taleb spent 8 years at the forefront of the global tourism agenda - championing the sector as a driver of sustainable development, economic growth, and people-to-people connection. We are grateful for his contribution, his presence, and the conversations he brought to life on board. Thank you to all the ministers and government leaders who joined us: Sherif Fathi Attia Nick Adams @NickAdamsinUSA Ahmed Youssef Nikolina Brnjac @NBrnjac Felipe Calderón Hinojosa Dov Lynch Mateo Renzi @matteorenzi Mauricio Macri @mauriciomacri Harris Whitbeck @harriswhitbeck - your insight and commitment to the future of Travel & Tourism made this a historic gathering. #WTTC #TravelAndTourism @EGPresidency_AR

Travel & Tourism is forecast to grow 1.5x faster than the global economy over the next decade, according to new @WTTC Economic Impact Research sponsored by Chase Travel. In 2026, the sector is expected to contribute $ 12TN to global GDP and support 376M jobs worldwide - reinforcing travel’s role as one of the world’s most powerful drivers of jobs, investment, and economic growth 📈 Europe is also set to outperform wider regional growth, with destinations like Spain and Italy continuing to lead the way. 📌wttc.org/news/global-tr… #WTTC #TavelAndTourism #GlobalEconomy

Thank you, H.E. @jordihereub, Minister of Industry and Tourism of #Spain, for a valuable and forward-looking conversation with the president of @WTTC @GGuevaraM. Spain continues to set the standard for tourism excellence, innovation, and resilience.

The first-ever @WTTC Leadership Cruise has concluded in Egypt - marking a historic milestone for global Travel & Tourism 🌍 Held aboard Crystal Serenity during transit through the Suez Canal, the three-day programme brought together Former Presidents, Ministers, CEOs, investors, and international policymakers at a defining moment for the sector. Hosted by the Egyptian Government and sponsored by the Antonio Lefebvre Foundation, Coral Travel Group, Crystal Cruises, and Abercrombie & Kent, the event became a powerful platform for global leadership, resilience, and coordinated recovery. 🇪🇬Egypt was placed firmly at the centre of the global conversation - spotlighting the country’s continued rise as a leading destination and its long-term tourism vision. At a time of heightened geopolitical uncertainty, the WTTC Leadership Cruise sent a strong global signal: the Middle East remains open, resilient, and central to the future of Travel & Tourism. Across discussions on connectivity, seamless travel, workforce challenges, destination stewardship, and long-term growth, one message consistently emerged: Recovery is driven by leadership, collaboration, and trust between governments and the private sector. 🛳️The transit through the Suez Canal served as a powerful symbol of global connection and resilience - reinforcing the sector’s shared commitment to restoring confidence, strengthening cooperation, and shaping the future of Travel & Tourism. 📌 wttc.org/news/historic-… #WTTC #LeadershipEvent #Egypt

Global Travel & Tourism contributes $11.6 trillion to GDP and supports 366 million jobs. It is one of the most resilient sectors in the global economy - and we have the data to prove it. ✅ World Travel & Tourism Council has launched its latest report: Travel & Tourism Always Recovers: Crisis Recovery – Global Evidence from Four Decades of Crises. Read more: wttc.org/news/travel-to… #WTTC #TravelAndTourism

تشرفت بالمشاركة في رحلة #WTTC_Leadership_Cruise القيادية 2026 على متن Crystal Serenity عبر قناة السويس في مصر. لقاء مميز جمع رؤساء وزراء سابقين، ووزراء حاليين، ورؤساء تنفيذيين، وقادة من مختلف أنحاء العالم لمناقشة التعافي، والقيادة، والمرونة، ومستقبل التحول في قطاع السفر والسياحة. استمتعت جدًا بالنقاشات وتبادل وجهات النظر حول مستقبل القطاع والفرص القادمة. شكراً @WTTC على الدعوة وحسن الضيافة 🌍 Honored to join the #WTTC_Leadership_Cruise 2026 aboard the Crystal Serenity through the Suez Canal, Egypt. A great gathering bringing together former Prime Ministers, current Ministers, global CEOs, and leaders from around the world to discuss recovery, leadership, resilience, and the future transformation of travel & tourism. Really enjoyed the discussions, exchange of perspectives, and conversations around where our industry is heading next. Thank you @WTTC for the invitation and warm hospitality 🌍 @Saudi_MT @TDF_SA @SaudiTourism

Day 2 of the Leadership Cruise 2026 brought another day of powerful conversations aboard Crystal Serenity, through the Suez Canal. From connectivity and talent to AI, entrepreneurship, and the power of major events. Global leaders from governments and the private sector united around one message - Travel & Tourism is resilient, recovery is accelerating, and the Middle East is open for business. #LeadershipEvent #TravelAndTourism #WTTC @crystalcruises @EGPresidency_AR @ExperienceEgypt @egymonuments

@WTTC welcomes U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Tourism Nick Adams - delivering his first major international address at our Leadership Event in Egypt. The U.S. represents $2.63 trillion in Travel & Tourism GDP - the largest Travel & Tourism economy in the world. Read more here: wttc.org/news/wttc-welc… #LeadershipEvent #WTTC #TravelAndTourism @NickAdamsinUSA

🚢 Straight from the Crystal Serenity, sailing through the Suez Canal, our CEO @villeyra took part in the World Travel & Tourism Council (@WTTC) Leadership Event panel "AI, Data & the New Rules of Recovery". @MabrianOfficial

⚓️Day 1 of the @WTTC Leadership Cruise 2026 is over - and the conversations have only just begun. A programme filled with bold leadership perspectives and insightful discussions on recovery, connectivity, and the future of travel. #WTTC #LeadershipEvent #Egypt @GGuevaraM @PeterSGreenberg @MariaRamosUK @mauriciomacri @EduardoPBraun @AudreyHendley @MTourismEgypt @ExperienceEgypt @crystalcruises @AKTravel_

During the “Heads of State Perspective – Leadership in Times of Crisis” segment at the @WTTC leadership cruise #Egypt 2026, distinguished former world leaders including H.E Felipe Calderón, who served as President of Mexico from 2006 to 2012, Mauricio Macri, President of Argentina from 2015 to 2019, and Matteo Renzi, Prime Minister of Italy from 2014 to 2016, shared powerful insights on navigating global uncertainty, economic disruption, and geopolitical challenges. The discussion highlighted the importance of resilient leadership, international cooperation, and the critical role of travel and tourism in fostering stability, recovery, and global connectivity during periods of crisis.

This week, @WTTC hosted its first-ever Leadership Cruise - bringing together over 300 leaders from the public and private sector aboard the Crystal Serenity. 🇪🇬 Egypt was the perfect setting. A nation that has turned resilience into results - with Travel & Tourism contributing USD $34.4bn to GDP and welcoming 19 million visitors in 2025 alone. Globally, the sector now contributes $11.6 trillion to GDP and supports 366 million jobs - one in every nine worldwide. Leadership in action 🌍 Read more: wttc.org/news/wttc-reco… #WTTC #LeadershipEvent #TravelAndTourism @crystalcruises @EGPresidency_AR @TourismandAntiq @ExperienceEgypt

Honoured to be welcomed by President El-Sisi, a leader who champions Travel & Tourism as a primary engine for job creation. With a $34.4bn contribution in 2025, Egypt’s growth is a testament to the vision of Minister Sherif Fathi. Our members remain deeply committed to investing in Egypt’s vibrant future. 🇪🇬✈️ #TravelAndTourism #Egypt @EGPresidency_AR

President El-Sisi Meets Chairman and Delegation of the World Travel tinyurl.com/257b3qjc

Switzerland Tourism joins the World Travel & Tourism Council (@WTTC) as a Destination Partner 🇨🇭 Switzerland Tourism promotes one of the world's most iconic destinations - from alpine landscapes to world-class business travel. With 35 offices across 21 markets spanning Europe, the Americas, Asia and the Middle East, they bring Switzerland to the world. Welcome to WTTC! 🤝 🔗 t.co/VSLIBKlMVp @MySwitzerland_e #WTTC #SwitzerlandTourism #TravelAndTourism

Saudi Arabia’s travel and tourism economy grew at nearly twice the global rate in 2025.   The World Travel & Tourism Council’s 2025 estimates of the total tourism GDP contribution show a 7.4% growth in the Kingdom, compared to 4.1% globally.   This momentum reinforces that investment in destinations, connectivity, and quality delivers real, sustainable economic impact.

We’re encouraged to see that the airspace has been fully re-opened in the UAE, enabling a full return of normal operations and commercial flying to and from the region. Full connectivity is vital to creating a strong bounceback of activity and we urge governments to now lift travel advisories so that businesses and consumers alike can return to the region with certainty.

🤝 Barceló Hotel Group (@barcelohoteles ) joins the World Travel & Tourism Council as Global Member. Beyond its global footprint, Barceló has placed sustainability at the heart of its strategy. Through its Barceló ReGen programme, the Group is advancing a regenerative approach to tourism that reduces environmental impact while creating lasting value for local communities. We look forward to working together to shape the future of responsible travel. Welcome to @WTTC ! 📌Read more: wttc.org/news/barcelo-j… #RegenerativeTourism #TravelAndTourism #WTTC