Date: 7 October 2026
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) today convened ministers and global business leaders from 24 countries in Valletta for a high-level Global Leaders Dialogue, held as part of WTTC’s 26th Global Summit.
The session highlighted the critical role of public-private partnership in strengthening destination competitiveness and shaping the future of global Travel & Tourism. A clear message emerged: lasting success in the sector depends on governments and businesses working together to address shared challenges and unlock new opportunities for growth.
Held under the theme Rewriting the Rules of Global Competitiveness, the Dialogue challenged traditional assumptions about what makes a destination competitive, exploring how connectivity, ease of travel, investment, regulation and public-private collaboration are increasingly determining where travellers, businesses and capital choose to go.
Participants included H.E. Sherif Fathy, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities of Egypt; Rosario Sánchez Grau, Secretary of State for Tourism of Spain; H.E. Fatima bint Jaafar Al Sairafi, Minister of Tourism of Bahrain; Jo Etienne Abela, Minister for Tourism of Malta; Robert O'Leary, U.S. Department of Commerce; and H.E. Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, among others.
Representing the private sector were global leaders including William Heinecke, Founder and Chairman of Minor International; Eijiro Yamakita, Chairperson of JTB Corp; Zubin Karkaria, Founder and CEO of VFS Global (WTTC’s Mobility Partner); Maher Koubaa, President EMEA of Amadeus; Paolo Barletta, CEO of Arsenale; Senthil Gopinath, CEO of ICCA; and Laura Sileo Pavat, Global Brand Homes Director at Pernod Ricard.
Gloria Guevara, President & CEO, WTTC, said: “Competitiveness is built through partnership. When governments and industry work hand in hand, they create the conditions for investment, innovation, connectivity and growth. Today's dialogue demonstrated that stronger public-private collaboration is essential to securing the future of Travel & Tourism.”
The first discussion, “Seamless Travel: Where Government and Industry Meet”, examined the entire traveller journey, from visas, borders and regulation to connectivity, technology, hospitality and logistics. As biometric borders and AI-driven visa systems become increasingly important, ministers and industry leaders considered how governments can improve security while also removing unnecessary friction for travellers.
The second discussion, “Winning the Race for Global Investment”, turned to the increasingly competitive global race for capital and examined what destinations need to do to become genuinely investment ready.
Ministers and business leaders debated the role of regulation, infrastructure, connectivity, incentives and political decision-making in attracting private capital, as well as whether traditional tools such as tax breaks, golden visas and special economic zones remain sufficient in an environment where regulatory speed, transparency and certainty can increasingly be the deciding factors for investors.
The discussions took place at a time when Travel & Tourism is becoming an increasingly important driver of economic growth, employment and investment worldwide. WTTC’s latest research shows the sector contributed US$3 trillion to Europe’s economy in 2025, supporting 40.7 million jobs, while international visitors spent US$835 billion across the continent.
The ability to move people efficiently and attract investment is becoming increasingly important to destination competitiveness. The Global Leaders Dialogue provided an opportunity for government and business leaders to examine what they can do together to ensure that policy, infrastructure and commercial ambition move at the same pace.
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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.