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Date: 9 October 2026
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has presented its Global Partner Award to H.E. Apostolos Tzitzikostas, European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, recognising the significance of his appointment as the first European Commissioner to hold a portfolio that explicitly includes Tourism.
The award was presented during the WTTC Global Summit in Valletta, bringing together more than 1,000 delegates, including over 200 of the world's leading Travel & Tourism CEOs and government leaders.
The WTTC Global Champion Award recognises public leaders whose vision, leadership and commitment help elevate the role of Travel & Tourism and strengthen collaboration between governments and the private sector.
Commissioner Tzitzikostas' appointment marks an important milestone for the sector, reflecting the growing recognition of Travel & Tourism as a strategic contributor to economic growth, employment, investment and regional development across Europe.
As the first European Commissioner to hold responsibility for Tourism within the European Commission, his role provides a unique opportunity to strengthen engagement between policymakers and the global private sector, while helping ensure Travel & Tourism remains a priority within the broader European economic agenda.
Travel & Tourism is one of Europe's most important economic sectors and continues to be a powerful engine for growth, supporting millions of jobs, driving investment and connecting communities and businesses across the continent.
WTTC believes the creation of this role sends a strong signal about the importance of the sector and the need for greater public-private collaboration to address shared priorities, including competitiveness, connectivity, sustainability, workforce development and investment.
Gloria Guevara, President & CEO, WTTC, said: "The appointment of the first-ever European Commissioner with responsibility for Tourism is a landmark moment for our sector and a reflection of its growing strategic importance to Europe's economy."
"This new role represents an important step towards ensuring Travel & Tourism has a stronger voice within the European agenda and reinforces the value of collaboration between governments and the private sector."
"WTTC warmly welcomes Commissioner Tzitzikostas and looks forward to working closely with him to strengthen Europe's Travel & Tourism sector, enhance competitiveness, foster investment and unlock opportunities for destinations, businesses and communities across the continent."
WTTC continues to advocate for policies that support investment, connectivity, workforce development and sustainable growth, while strengthening collaboration between governments and the global private sector.
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About the World Travel & Tourism Council
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) is the global body representing the private sector of Travel & Tourism and the leading authority on the sector’s economic and social contribution worldwide. Its members include Chairmen, Presidents and CEOs of the world’s leading travel and tourism companies across hotels, airlines, airports, cruise lines, tour operators, technology platforms and destinations, spanning every major region globally.
WTTC works to advance sustainable growth across the Travel & Tourism sector by driving collaboration between industry leaders and governments, shaping global policy, and providing authoritative research on the sector’s economic impact worldwide.