With more than 1,000 delegates from some 65 countries in Las Vegas 11th Global Travel & Tourism Summit got off to a great start, with a welcome dinner and spectacular show hosted by the Aria Resort & Casino, the Summit venue.

Some of the key issues to be discussed during the Summit were addressed during WTTC’s AGM, with members pledging their support to Japan to power the recovery of travel & tourism demand during a special session with high-level Japanese government and industry representatives. The 46-member strong delegation from Japan is a clear demonstration of Japan’s commitment to hosting the 12th Global Travel & Tourism Summit in Tokyo in 2012.

Discussed at the AGM were issues of concern to WTTC members, as well as the industry at large – such as visas, taxation, human resource and infrastructure constraints.

And members all agreed that it was important for WTTC to take a stand on these issues, to try to reduce barriers to growth.

“Despite the trauma in Japan and the difficulties in the Middle East, all the forecasts nevertheless point to a strong increase in Travel & Tourism demand over the next ten years,” David Scowsill, WTTC President & CEO, told the media at the opening press conference. “WTTC will work hard, in co-operation with industry partners and the public sector, to ensure that we can manage this growth.”

“Partnership is key,” Scowsill added. “We are now one year into our third decade and partnership will be one of our main focuses over the next ten years. We will be focusing on working with governments – neither the public nor private sector can go it alone.”

Scowsill cited a number of examples of public-private sector partnership in which WTTC is engaged, such as the Global Leaders for Tourism campaign involving WTTC and the world Tourism Organization (UNWTO), and the new project being launched by the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) grouping with the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) and WTTC on Creating New Opportunities for Building Business Growth.

Reminding media attending the conference of the mission of WTTC – to raise awareness of the importance of Travel & Tourism – he commented: “Travel & tourism is not just about holidays and fun, but a serious economic activity on which many people’s livelihoods depend.

“Working with the Minister of Tourism, we need to reach the Ministries of Finance, and Heads of state,” Scowsill said.

LasVegas.Mobi

With the WTTC Global Travel & Tourism Summit taking place this week, City.Mobi is celebrating the success of its new guide to Las Vegas.

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City.Mobi guides include user reviews and traveller utilities such as a translation guide, currency converter, news and local weather guide.

The WTTC Global Travel & Tourism Summit is taking place at the Aria Resort & Convention Centre, Las Vegas, 17-19 May 2011. To find out more visit www.globaltraveltourism.com