14 March, 2007

London, UK - Travel & Tourism's leading private sector forum today issued the list of the top priorities and critical issues affecting the industry over the coming decade. This list (in the form of the Global Travel & Tourism Summit programme) is the framework for face to face discussions among private sector leaders, governments and NGOs, representing a wide array of views and conflicting visions from across the world.

The Summit will take place on May 10 to 12, 2007 in Lisbon, and will be hosted by the President of the Portuguese Republic and the Prime Minister of Portugal. The list of participants also includes some of the most outspoken leaders of the industry, including easyGroup Founder & Chairman Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, Zagat Survey Co-Founder, Co-Chair & CEO Tim Zagat and Expedia President & CEO Dara Khosrowshahi.

In order to start the debate now, WTTC has opened the global industry's first Interactive Web Channel. This can be accessed at http://www.globaltraveltourism.com/webchannel/.

Industry leaders are lining up to join the online debate as a platform to share their visions of the future landscape of Travel & Tourism. According to WTTC research, Travel & Tourism accounts for 10.4 per cent GDP and over 230 million jobs. Set to grow at more than 4.3 per cent per annum over the next ten years, this industry has attracted a great deal of attention

Conflicting views have already emerged on ways in which to manage this growth, to break down the barriers that inhibit Travel & Tourism's full and sustainable potential. The agenda will focus on infrastructure, red tape, and the eminent role of the industry in relation to the environment and corporate social responsibility.

Inviting opinions from all parties interested and affected by Travel & Tourism, Jean-Claude Baumgarten, President, WTTC said, 'The Interactive Web Channel will help us to open the dialogue to a worldwide audience, to generate and bring together new ideas which will help the Summit define the role of Travel & Tourism in the future'.

ENDS

About the World Travel & Tourism Council
WTTC is the forum for business leaders in the Travel & Tourism industry. With Chief Executives of some one hundred of the world's leading Travel & Tourism companies as its Members, WTTC has a unique mandate and overview on all matters related to Travel & Tourism.
WTTC works to raise awareness of Travel & Tourism as one of the world's largest industries, employing approximately 231 million people and generating over 10 per cent of world GDP.
For more information, please contact WTTC at enquiries@wttc.org