Tourism summit to draw top speakers

’Tourism for Tomorrow’ has to balance the needs of ‘people, planet and profits’ and consider the consumption of resources and possible impacts on society and the wider world.
That will be the strong message from world-renowned environmental speakers to more than 800 senior private and public executives from the travel and tourism industry at the World Travel & Tourism Council’s (WTTC’s) Global Summit in Abu Dhabi, April 9-10.
The Global Summit at the Jumeirah at Eithad Towers will include a keynote address from President Bill Clinton, Founder of the William J. Clinton Foundation and 42nd President of the US.
Speakers including Daryl Hannah, American actress and activist, Jonathan Porritt, founder director, Forum for the Future, David de Rothschild, adventurer and environmentalist, Laura Turner Seydel, Captain Planet Foundation, Costas Christ, chairman of the Judges, Tourism for Tomorrow Awards and Dr. Christoph Weber, CEO, Jatro will be among the other speakers.
They will be discussing what the industry can do to ensure it impacts natural and cultural environments in a positive way, provides benefits to all sectors of society, attracts and develops a skilled workforce to support growing demand, stimulates consumer demand for sustainable products and uses the latest technology to find innovative solutions to future challenges.
David Scowsill, president and CEO of WTTC, states: “Our discussions at the Global Summit will help to bring the industry together to speak with one voice and recognize a common outlook. Through collaboration, the industry can amplify its individual efforts by taking advantage of shared knowledge and industry efficiency.”
Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi), which is hosting the summit along with Etihad Airways, says a sustainable Travel & Tourism industry is at the heart of the emirate’s tourism strategy.